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CALIFORNIA 


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Original  Portrait  by  Alva  Bradish. 

DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON 
GEOLOGIST,  LAKE 


MEMOIR 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON, 


FIRST 


STATE  GEOLOGIST  OF  MICHIGAN. 


WITH  AN  APPENDIX,  CONTAINING  REPORTS,  OR  ABSTRACTS 
OF  THE  FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY,  AND  A  CHRONO- 
LOGICAL STATEMENT  OF  THE  PROGRESS  OF 
GEOLOGICAL    EXPLORATION  IN 
MICHIGAN,       > 

BY 

ALVAH  BRADISH,  A.  M;, 

•t 

CORRESPONDING  MEMBER  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY,  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. ;  CORRESPONDING 

MEMBER  OF  THE  ALBANY  SCIENTIFIC  INSTITUTE  ;    HONORARY  MEMBER  OF  THE 

HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  WISCONSIN  ;  ACADEMICIAN  AND  MEMBER  OF 

COUNCIL  OF  THE  CHICAGO  ACADEMY  OF  DESIGN,  BEFORE 

THE  GREAT  FIRE  OF  1871,  AND 

PROFESSOR  OF  THE  FINE  ARTS  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

MICHIGAN,  DURING  THE  PRESIDENCY  OF 

HENRY  P.  TAPPAN. 


l-  Wading  the  streams  by  day,  tortured  by  swarms  of  mosquitos  at  night— often  short  of 
provisions,  and  often  drenched  by  rain— were  it  not  that  courage  is  uplifted  by  the 
love  of  science,  both  for  its  own  sake  and  the  good  it  is  to  accomplish,  the  task  of 
the  pioneer  explorer  would  be  hard  indeed.'1 — Houghton. 

"  The  life  of  a  man  of  science  belongs  to  his  country  and  his  age.11—? 


DETROIT  : 

KAYNOR  &  TAYLOR,  PRINTERS  AND  BINDERS, 

96,  98  and  100  Bates  St. 

1889. 


IV  PREFACE. 

gifted  men  who  had  been  associated  with  him.  It  is  due  to  the  science  that 
he  loved  and  advanced,  and  not  less  to  the  citizens  of  Michigan,  who  watched 
his  progress  and  stood  by  him,  and  who  have  instructed  their  Eepresentatives 
at  Lansing,  to  honor  his  memory  and  secure  memorials  of  his  person.  It  is 
due  also  to  those  younger  citizens,  who  have  known  of  Dr.  Houghton  only  by 
vague  reports,  or  by  his  name  so  familiar  to  their  eyes  on  the  map  of  the 
State,  that  his  memory  should  not  be  a  name  only,  but  an  heritage  to  be  appre- 
ciated and  enjoyed  down  to  the  latest  generation. 

I  should  have  been  well  pleased  if  some  one  more  competent  than  my- 
self could  have  gathered  these  materials,  arranged  and  traced  his  career  from 
his  earliest  school-boy  life,  in  a  way  to  have  explained  his  studies  and  labors 
and  illustrated  his  character. 

I  cannot  omit  to  mention  in  this  connection,  my  obligation  to  Hon. 
Bela  Hubbard,  whose  brief  memoir  of  Dr.  Houghton,  published  in  the 
fl  Journal  of  Science,"  in  1847,  and  whose  intimate  personal  acquaintance 
with  its  subject,  have  proved  of  valuable  aid  to  me,  in  the  preparation  of 
this  larger  work. 

In  the  meantime,  materials  and  reminiscences,  though  still  meagre,  have 
been  gathered,  until  by  insensible  degrees  they  have  assumed  an  importance 
that  would  seem  to  justify  this  attempt  to  arrange  them  for  publication,  and  to 
present  to  the  public  a  connected  narrative  of  his  brilliant  career. 

The  close  intimacy  of  the  author  with  Dr.  Houghton — with  his  father, 
mother  and  brothers — would  naturally  furnish  information  that  could  be  derived 
from  no  other  sources. 

I  am  also  persuaded  that  a  re-print  of  his  Geological  Reports,  or  a  por- 
tion of  them,  will  be  deemed  a  welcome  contribution  to  scientific  literature — 
not  alone  from  their  intrinsic  merits,  but  from  their  being  to  some  extent  a 
record  of  the  labors  of  these  earlier  Geologists  of  the  State.  It  should  be 
remarked  that  these  reports  are  now  so  entirely  out  of  print,  that  it  is  doubtful 
if  a  complete  copy  can  be  found  in  the  public  libraries  at  Detroit,  at  Lansing, 
or  at  Ann  Arbor. 

In  the  Appendix  will  be  found  a  summary  of  such  reports  as  it  is 
thought  not  advisable  to  include  in  full ;  also  a  general  statement  of  the  works 
that  have  been  published  since  the  death  of  Dr.  Houghton,  pertaining  to  the 
Geology  of  Michigan.  It  is  believed  that  this  portion  of  the  volume  will  be 
especially  acceptable  to  all  intelligent  readers  who  wish  to  be  informed  of 
what  has  been  accomplished  by  the  pioneers  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  the 
State. 


PREFACE.  V 

The  full-length  portrait  of  Dr.  Houghton — of  which  the  frontispiece 
will  give  some  idea — has  awakened  such  a  wide  spread  interest  in  the  State, 
and  the  petitions  for  its  purchase  have  been  so  numerous  and  urgent,  that  it  is 
thought  only  just  to  his  memory  to  include  in  the  appendix,  a  few  of  these 
testimonials  to  the  very  great  excellence  of  the  memorial  portrait,  coming  as 
they  do  from  the  highest  authority  in  the  State  of  Michigan. 

After  no  little  hesitation,  it  has  seemed  to  me  that  I  could  not  well 
ignore  the  suggestions  and  demands  of  a  plain  duty.  What  I  have  said  must 
serve  to  interpret  the  motives  and  explain  the  appearance  of  this  volume. 

It  may  be  stated  that  these  Memoirs  are  intended  for  the  unscientific  as 
well  as  for  the  learned,  and  for  all  readers  who  can  sympathize  with  the  labors 
and  achievements  of  the  pioneer  geologists  of  Michigan. 

Experts  in  the  natural  sciences  will  no  doubt  find  in  this  volume  mis- 
takes and  short  comings ;  but  as  the  author  had  not  been  trained  in  any  special 
school  of  science,  he  begs  that  his  readers  who  have  been  more  fortunate 
will  exercise  a  liberal  and  magnanimous  spirit  towards  these  memorials  of 

Douglass  Houghton. 

ALVAH  BRADISH. 


"  If  I  have  awakened  any  one  here  and  there  to  think 
seriously  of  the  complexity,  the  antiquity,  the  grandeur,  the 
true  poetry  of  the  things  around  them — even  the  stones  be- 
neath the  feet,  if  I  shall  have  suggested  to  them  the  solemn 
thoughts  that  all  these  things,  and  they  themselves  still  more 
are  ordered  by  laws  utterly  independent  of  man's  will  about 
them,  man's  belief  in  them ;  if  I  shall  at  all  have  helped  to 
open  their  eyes  that  they  may  see,  and  their  ears  that  they 
may  hear  the  great  book  that  is  free  to  all  alike,  to  the 
peasant  and  peer;  to  men  of  business  as  to  men  of  science, 
even  that  great  book  of  nature,  which,  as  Lord  Bacon,  says : 
'  of  old  the  word  of  God  revealed  in  facts '  then  I  shall  have 
fresh  reason  for  loving  the  science  of  geology,  which  has 
been  my  favorite  study  since  I  was  a  boy." 

— Rev.  Charles  Kingsley. 

"  A  physical  fact  is  as  sacred  as  a  moral  principle— 
Our  own  nature  demands  from  us  their  double  allegiance." 

— L.  Agassiz. 


CONTENTS. 

MEMOIR  OF  DOUGLASS  HOUGHTOK 

PAGES. 

CHAPTER  I.  -          1-14 

Houghton  Ancestry — Judge  Houghton,  1 — Parentage— Boyhood 
—Family,  8— Education,  10— Invitation  to  Detroit,  13. 

CHAPTER  II. 15-29 

Success  in  Detroit — Professional  Career  in  Michigan,  15— School- 
craft  Expedition,  17 — Scientific  Pursuits,  19 — Inception  of  a 
Natural  History  Survey  of  Michigan,  25 — State  Legislators 
and  Geology — Diplomacy,  26. 

CHAPTER  III. 30-43 

Appointed  State  Geologist,  30 — Plan  of  the  Survey — Its  Char- 
acter and  Results,  31 — Annual  Reports  —  Novel  Conclu- 
sions, 33 — Methods  —Hardships — Incidents,  34 — Suspension 
of  State  Survey,  39 — Plan  for  Connecting  the  Geological 
with  the  Linear  Surveys  of  the  Public  Domain— Its  Accept- 
ance, 40 — Professorship  in  the  University,  43. 

CHAPTER  IV.      -  44-75 

Honors,  44 — Society— Personnel — Home  and  Family,  45 — Popu- 
larity— Mayor  of  Detroit,  48 — Anecdotes,  49  —Materials  for 
Final  Report  on  the  Geology,  Topography  and  Natural 
History  of  the  State,  51— Social  Intercourse— The  Detroit 
of  that  day — Anecdotes,  54 — Association  of  Geologists,  60 — 
The  Storm  on  Lake  Superior  — Duty —  Death,  64— The 
News  at  Detroit — Public  Manifestations,  67 — General  Re- 
marks, 69. 


APPENDIX. 


PAKT  I.        V      • .  •  .;- •;..  -    '-  , 76-87 

Pen  Portraits  of  some  of  the  early  friends  of  Dr.  Houghton  at 
Detroit — Gen.  Lewis  Cass,  77 — Gov.  Stevens  T.  Mason,  78 
—Gen.  Sylvester  Larned,  79— Dr.  Zina  Pitcher,  80— Henry 
N.  Walker,  81— Henry  R.  Schoolcraft,  82— Col.  Henry 
Whiting,  U.  S.  A.,  83— Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  84— Young 
Men's  Literary  Society,  85. 

PARTII.     y      -        •"      •"'-'        -        -       '-  "•--    ...  -'   .,-        88-97 
Statements  Regarding  the  Death  of  Dr.  Houghton,  88— Letter 
of  Hon.  E.  H.  Thompson,  90 — Statements  of  his  two  surviv- 
ing Voyageurs,   92 — Resolutions    of    Common   Council  of 
Detroit,  96— Cenotaph  at  Ann  Arbor,  97. 

PART  III.     ....      •-.'.-.'      ,-       -        -        -        -        -      98-112 

The  Houghton  Portrait,  98— The  Proposed  Monument,  99— 
Testimonials,  1 03— William  A.  Burt  and  his  Solar  Compass, 
105 — Discovery  of  Gold  by  Dr.  Houghton — Recollections  of 
Samuel  W.  Hill,  107— A  Memorial  Window,  108. 

PART  IV. -  -     '.        .    113-132 

Letters  of  Dr.  Houghton — To  Hon.  Augustus  Porter,  (1840), 
113— To  Richard  Houghton,  (Feb,1832),  117— To  same, 
(June,  1832).  118— To  Hon  Jacob  Houghton,  (Dec.,  1834), 
121— To  same,  (April,  1836),  125— To  same,  (Jan.,  1841), 
126— To  same,  (March,  1841),  128— To  same,  (Nov.,  1841), 
130. 


APPENDIX.  IX 

PART  V. — GENERAL    SUMMARY   AND   SYNOPSIS  OF  THE  WORK 

DONE  UNDER  THE  FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN,  133-286 

First  Organization,  (1837),  134 — lie-organization  and  Report, — 

Official  Corps,  (1838),        - 135 

Second  Annual  Report,  (1839),  -     136-140 

Northern  Portion  of  Lower  Peninsula,  136— Change  in 
Elevation  of  the  Waters  of  the  Lakes,  137 — Documents — 
Keport  of  A.  Sager,  Zoologist,  138— Eeport  of  John  Wright, 
Botanist,  139— Keport  of  S.  W.  Higgins,  Topographer,  139 
Reports  of  C.  C.  Douglass  and  Bela  Hubbard,  Assistant 
Geologists,  140. 

Third  Annual  Report,  (1840),    ........     141-153 

Southern  Slope  of  Upper  Peninsula  —  Suspension  of 
Departments  of  Zoology  and  Botany,  142 — Documents— 
Report  of  Topographer,  142-152 — Procuring  Copies  of 
Patents — Progress  of  Maps  of  the  Counties,  143 — Roads  and 
Highways— Chicago  Turnpike  or  Trail,  148— Natural  Woods 
of  Michigan,  145 — Variation  of  the  Magnetic  Needle,  147 
— Decrease  in  Elevation  of  the  Waters  of  the  Lakes,  152 — 
Report  of  C.  C.  Douglass — Details  of  the  Coal-bearing  Rocks 
— Report  of  B.  Hubbard — Southern  Range  of  Counties — 
Ancient  Lake  Ridge,  153. 

Report  of  State  Geologist  relative  to  the  Salt  Springs,  (Jan.,  1840)          155 

Fourth  Annual  Report,  (Jan.,  1841),  -        -         -         -     156-278 

General  Description  and  Features  of  the  Upper  Peninsula, 
157 — General  Geology  of  the  same,  165 — Section,  Order  of 
Superposition  of  the  Rocks  of  the  Upper  Peninsula,  173— 
Primary  Rocks,  173— Trap  Rocks,  176 — Metamorphic 
Rocks,  182 — Conglomerate  Rock,  184 — Mixed  Conglomerate 
and  Sand  Rock,  186— Red  Sandstone  and  Shales,  188— 
Upper  or  Gray  Sandrock,  192 — Tertiary  Clay  and  Sands,  193 
— Mineral  and  Mineral  Veins,  196 — Progress  and  Condition 
of  the  Survey,  229— Documents,  Report  of  Frederick  Hub- 
bard, Special  Assistant,  (1840), —  Variations,  Latitudes, 
Survey  of  Harbors, 230 


APPENDIX. 

Fourth  Annual  Report,  (Jan.,  1841) — Continued. 

Keport  of  C.  C.  Douglass,  (1841)— General  Character  and 
Geology  of  Northern  part  of  Lower  Peninsula,  -  -  231 

Report  of  B.  Hubbard,  (1841),  with  Geological  Section,  233-260 
General  Geology  of  the  Organized  Counties  of  Michigan 
— Rocks  of  Michigan  South  of  Saginaw  Bay,  234 — Diluvial 
or  Erratic  Group,  235 — Ancient  and  Recent  Alluvions,  240 
—Tertiary  Clays,  242— Coal  Measures,  244— Section  of  Coal 
Basin  of  Michigan,  249 — Slates  and  Flags  of  Lake  Huron, 
251— Section  of  Rocks  Below  the  Coal  Basin,  255— Dip  of 
Rocks,  256 — Diagram  of  Strata  passed  through  at  the  Salt 
Well,  Grand  Rapids,  257— Summary  of  the  Results  of  the 
Survey  in  Lower  Peninsula,  260. 

Report  of  S.  W.  Higgins,  Topographer,  (1841),      .  -        r        -    265-278 

Magnetic  variation  in  Michigan,  265 — The  Magnetic  Meri- 
dian traced,  269 — Burt's  Solar  Compass,  27 2 — Elevation  and 
Depression  of  the  Waters  in  the  Great  Lakes,  274— Table  of 
same  compared  with  June  1819,  278. 

Report  of  the  Geologist  relative  to  the  State  Salt  Springs,  (Jan., 

1842),      -  279 

Fifth  Annual  Report  of  State  Geologist,  (Jan.,  1842)— Limits  of 
the  Copper  and  Lead  Districts — Condition  and  Wants  of  the 
Department,  -  -  -  v'-'.r  '  *  V  -  -  280-282 

Report  of  the  Condition  of  the  Work  at  the  State  Salt  Springs, 

(Jan.,  1843),  ...        -        .        .          282 

Sixth  Annual  Report  of  State  Geologist,  (Feb.,  1843)— Progress 
towards  Completion — Publication  of  the  State  and  County 
Maps,  - 283-284 

Seventh  Annual  Report  of  the  Geologist,  (Feb.,  1884),          -        -  285-287 

Arranging  of  Materials  for  the  Final  Report — Completion 
of  Maps — Figuring  and  Engraving  of  Sections,  Fossils,  etc., 
285— Opportunity  for  Perfecting  the  Work  in  the  Upper 
Peninsula  through  the  U.  S.  Linear  Surveys,  286. 

Remarks  of  Judge  Campbell  relative  to  the  materials  amassed 

by  Dr.  Houghton,  for  his  Final  Report,        ,         -         -  287 


APPENDIX.  XI 

PART  VI. — SUMMARY  OF  GEOLOGICAL  EXPLORATIONS  IN  MICHI- 
GAN, SINCE  THE  DEATH  OF  DR.  HOUGHTON,  -        -  289-298 

Pamphlet,  with  Map  of  the  Mineral  Region  of  Lake  Superior, 

by  Jacob  Houghton,  Jr.,  and  T.  W.  Bristol,  (1847),     -  289 

Reports  by  Wm.  A.  Burt  and  Bela  Hubbard,  from  the  field 
notes  of  Dr.  Houghton,  on  the  portions  of  the  South  Shore 
of  Lake  Superior  being  surveyed  by  him  at  the  time  of  his 
death, -  -  - '  -  290-292 

General  Geology  and  Topography  of  the  coast  from  Choco- 
late to  Carp  Rivers,  291 — The  Granite  and  Metamorphic 
Rocks — Argillaceous  and  Micaceous  Oxides  of  Iron — First 
published  accounts  of  the  Iron  Ore  beds  of  Michigan,  291 — 
General  character  of  the  Keweenaw  Point  district — The  new 
system  of  Dr.  Houghton  for  uniting  Geological  with  the 
Linear  Surveys,  292. 

Second  pamphlet  (July,  1846;  by  Jacob  Houghton,  Jr.        -          293 

Joint  Resolution  of  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  relative  to 
the  Notes,  Specimens,  Maps,  Engravings,  etc.,  made  and 
preserved  for  the  State  by  Dr.  Houghton,  and  in  reference 
to  the  completion  of  his  Final  Report,  -  293 

Act  of  Legislature  of  Michigan,  approved  Feb.,  1859,   "  To 

finish  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State,"          •  294 

Appointment  of  Prof.  Alex'r  Winchell  State  Geologist— His 

first  Biennial  Report,  (Dec.,  1860), 294-295 

Observations  on  the  Geology,  Zoology  and  Botany  of  the 
Lower  Peninsula — Refers  to  Act  of  Congress  of  1847, 
for  the  Geological  Exploration  of  the  Lake  Su- 
perior district,  and  Appointment  of  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson,  294 
— Continuance  of  the  Survey  by  Foster  and  Whitney,  U.  S. 
Geologists,  -  -  295 

Their  Report  on  "  The  Copper  Lands,"  (1850),  and  on  "  The 
Iron  Region,"  (1851) — Including  Reports  on  the  Fossils,  by 
Prof.  James  Hall,  and  on  the  Zoology  of  Wisconsin,  by  Dr. 
Lapham  and  Charles  Whittlesey,  with  observations  by  the 
latter  on  the  fluctuation  of  the  Lake  Surfaces,  295. 
Commission  to  B.  Hubbard,  in  1846,  to  report  upon  the 
Geology  of  the  districts  on  Lake  Superior  being  subdivided 
by  the  U.  S.  Linear  Surveyors,  -  -  296 


XII 


APPENDIX. 


PART  VI.— Continued. 

Inauguration  of  new  State  Geological  Survey,  by  Act  01 
March,  1869— Establishing  a  "Geological  Board,"  -  -  296-298 
Vols.  1  and  2  published  with  Atlas,  1873  (Upper  Peninsula) 
by  T.  B.  Brooks,  E.  Pompelly  and  Dr.  Kominger,  297— Vol. 
3  published,  1876,  with  Geological  Maps,  (Lower  Peninsula) 
—Vol.  4,  1881,  Iron  Region,  (Upper  Peninsula),  by  C. 
Rominger,  298. 

Lecture  by  Prof.   Bradish — "Biographical   Sketch   of  Dr. 
Houghton" — Correspondence  (1867),  -        -        -          298 

Description  of  the  Full  Length  Portrait  of  Dr.  Houghton, 
(Engraved  in  Frontispiece),        -        -        *     >  - .'.„-•       -          300 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.  DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON. 


CHAPTER  I. 


PARENTAGE — BOYHOOD— EDUCATION — CALL  TO  DETROIT. 

.   »  V   *     '"'• 


THE  American  branch  of  the  Houghton  fainify  was  seotlea 
in  the  town  of  Bolton,  Mass.,  near  Boston.  The  ancestors  of 
Jacob  Houghton,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
came  over  from  England  about  the  year  1658.  Bolton,  Lan- 
caster, in  England,  has  been  the  home  of  this  family  from  the 
time  -of  the  conquest.  The  name  was  spelled  De'Houton;  it 
was  a  Norman  race.  The  old  castle  or  tower  of  Houton,  a 
plain  venerable  structure,  still  stands,  and  has  been  until 
recently,  occupied  by  the  present  representative  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Houghton,  of  Fredonia,  was  a  lawyer  by  profession;  a 
gentleman  of  culture  and  acquainted  with  books.  He  had 
kept  up  some  correspondence  with  his  namesake  in  England, 
and  he  would  very  naturally  feel  some  interest  in  the  records 
and  traditions  of  his  early  ancestors.  If  he  felt  some  pride 
in  keeping  alive  this  sentiment,  it  was  at  least  without  osten- 
tation; for  this  pride — if  we  must  give  it  a  name  of  reputable 


2  MEMOIR  OF 

connections — was  never  obtruded  on  others.  With  him  it  was 
an  amiable  sentiment,  not  a  passion,  and  it  would  be  a  mis- 
apprehension of  his  character  to  suppose  he  entertained  any 
special  reverence  for  titles  unless  they  were  deserved,  and  had 
been  won  by  great  and  heroic  deeds.  This  feeling  of  rever- 
ence for  olden  times  and  old  country  ways,  was,  however,  a 
deep  sentiment,  though  in  no  way  offensive.  In  all  his  inter- 
course with  neighbors,  socially  and  in  business,  of  all  men 
that  I  have  ever  known,  Judge  Houghton  was  the  most  free 
from  all  assumption  or  arrogance;  the  most  frank,  guileless 
and  even  childlike.  He  was  a  great  favorite  with  young  peo- 
ple; the  girls  delighted  to  have  him  as  an  escort  or  a  compan- 
ion. 'Px^iclaildren  loved  him.  Mr.  Houghton  was  thoughtful 
.  for  .tltie  welfare  of  his  neighbors;  very  tender  and  delicate  in 
bestowing  favors  on  his  friends  and  on  the  needy.  His  rever- 
en.ce  for  woman  was  great;  it  had  the  flavor  of  the  old  days  of 
chivalry,  without  its  extravagance.  It  was  deep,  pure  and 
artless.  In  money  matters  he  was  too  liberal,  and  he  gave 
friends  his  time  and  his  counsel.  His  memory  was  singularly 
retentive,  and  he  would  entertain  with  anecdotes  and  narra- 
tives. The  hospitalities  of  his  house  were  cordial  and  without 
stint;  and  it  would  be  only  the  want  of  ample  means  that 
should  prevent  him  from  following  more  closely  the  example 
of  some  of  the  old  titled  barons  of  the  Houghton  family  in 
England.  For  some  years  Mr.  Houghton  had  kept  up  some 
correspondence  with  the  head  of  the  family  in  England;  Sir 
Henry  had  sent  him  his  portrait,  and  this  has  long  hung  in 
the  parlor  of  the  old  Houghton  mansion  in  Fredonia.  It  is  a 
cabinet  sized,  engraved,  half-length,  seated  portrait.  The 
countenance  is  one  of  much  benevolence, — a  type  of  the  inde. 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHttTON.  3 

pendent  country  gentleman  of  England,  not  unaccustomed  to 
fox  hunting  in  his  younger  days,  a  staunch  lover  of  king  and 
church,  not  over  abstemious  of  wine,  and  not  unacquainted 
with  touches  of  the  gout. 

A  few  years  since  there  had  been  a  rumor  widely  spread 
through  New  England  and  other  States,  that  a  large  fortune 
had  been  left  in  some  way  to  the  American  branch  of  this 
family,  now  only  waiting  for  the  claimants  to  come  forward 
and  receive  their  own.  A  meeting  of  relatives  was  held  in 
Boston  to  take  the  necessary  measures  to  secure  this  treasure. 
They  organized  for  this  purpose,  and  raised  funds  to  meet 
expenses.  A  Mr.  Eice,  a  young  lawyer,  had  married  a 
Houghton,  and  he  was  deputized  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of 
the  society.  It  was  soon  discovered  that  Judge  Jacob  Hough- 
ton,  of  Fredonia,  New  York,  was  the  only  one  of  this  name 
who  was  acquainted  with  the  older  branch  in  England,  and 
must  be  considered  very  naturally  as  the  head  of  the  family 
in  this  country.  Mr.  Eice,  the  young  attorney,  made  a  visit 
to  Fredonia,  full  of  this  promising  enterprise, — but  Judge 
Houghton  placed  little  confidence  in  the  existence  of  any  such 
fund  in  England.  He  was  too  good  a  lawyer  to  be  carried 
away  with  any  such  plausible  rumor.  He  declined  to  sub- 
scribe to  the  association,  but  he  gave  Mr.  Eice  a  cordial  letter 
of  introduction  to  the  head  of  the  house  in  England — now  the 
present  Sir  Henry  Bold  Houghton,  and  member  of  parlia- 
ment. This  secured  to  Mr.  Eice  a  courteous  reception,  though 
it  is  not  to  be  presumed  that  he  revealed  the  object  of  his 
visit.  But  after  examining  the  records  carefully  in  London, 
he  satisfied  himself  that  no  such  fortune  could  be  found.  In 
the  meantime,  during  his  stay,  he  accepted  the  hospitalities 


4  MEMOIR  OF 

extended  to  him  by  the  member  of  parliament,  to  whom  his 
letter  was  addressed.  The  reader  will  readily  recall  similar 
rumors  as  to  other  American  families  of  English  origin,  who 
it  had  been  supposed  would  be  made  rich  by  these  long  un- 
claimed fortunes.  A  pleasing  result  of  this  Houghton  organ- 
ization and  Mr.  Eice's  mission — especially  pleasing  to  the 
Fredonia  branch  of  the  family — was  a* superb  gold  snuff  box 
sent  through  Mr.  Eice  to  Judge  Houghton,  as  a  gift  from  his 
relative  and  namesake,  Sir  Henry  Bold  Houghton.  The  old 
fable  of  the  division  of  the  oyster  among  disputants,  and  its 
shell,  came  as  a  natural  suggestion,  perhaps,  to  the  members 
of  the  association;  but  no  one,  bearing  the  name  of  Houghton 
in  America,  would  doubt  for  a  moment  that  the  precious 
memorial  gift  had  gone  into  the  right  hands. 

Judge  Houghton  had  married  early  in  life  a  lady  of  New 
London,  Connecticut, — a  Miss  Mary  Lydia  Douglass — who 
survived  her  husband  eight  years  and  died  at  the  old  resi- 
dence in  Fredonia,  in  1875,  at  the  great  age  of  ninety-two, 
retaining  her  faculties  to  the  last  moment  of  life.  Her 
parents  lived  in  New  London  during  the  war  of  the  revolu- 
tion, and  she  remembered  well  the  burning  of  the  city  by 
Benedict  Arnold,  then  in  command  of  an  English  marauding 
flotilla,  when  she,  with  father  and  mother,  fled  into  the 
country  for  safety. 

This  Jacob  Houghton,  came  to  Fredonia,  New  York,  in 
1812.  He  came  with  his  young  family  when  Chautauqua 
county  embraced  a  large  extent  of  country,  and  all  that  region 
was  a  wilderness.  The  journey  from  Troy  to  this  remote 
region  was  performed  by  horse  teams,  a  distance  of  about 
four  hundred  miles,  and  Eochester,  a  small  village,  was  the 


DOUGLASS  HOUGKETON.  5 

frontier  town,  still  in  the  wilderness  looking  west  from  the 
Hudson.  His  family  were  several  weeks  on  their  journey 
before  they  reached  their  destination — a  long  tedious  journey, 
not  free  from  peril  and  suffering.  But  these  hardships  were 
encountered  with  resolution  and  a  firm  purpose.  They  were 
young,  not  easily  discouraged;  virtually,  it  was  the  beginning 
of  a  new  life  with  them,  and  they  were  animated  with  a  noble 
passion  for  securing  a  home  in  the  new  region  of  the  west  for 
themselves  and  their  children. 

v 

They  would  be  surrounded  by  almost  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness; it  would  be  a  long  period  before  they  could  be  reached 
by  the  comforts  and  amenities  of  eastern  life.  Mr.  Houghton 
had  been  a  student  at  law  and  was  already  admitted  to  prac- 
tice at  the  bar.  He  immediately  opened  his  office  in  Fredo- 
nia,  a  rude  structure  no  doubt.  It  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
woods;  noble  chestnut  and  oak  trees,  maple  and  white- wood, 
surrounded  him  on  all  sides.  The  village  as  yet  did  not  exist, 
save  a  few  rude  cottages.  But  the  services  of  a  lawyer  were 
soon  in  demand,  and  it  was  not  long  ere  his  practice  became 
extensive;  and  he  was  able,  very  early,  to  begin  building  a 
home  for  his  family.  This  was  a  two-story  frame  house,  with 
ample  room  for  his  growing  family,  his  library  and  his  law 
office.  It  was  no  doubt  the  best  and  most  imposing  private 
residence  that  had  been  built  west  of  Eochester.  From  time 
to  time  through  these  early  years  Mr.  Houghton  had  been 
solicited  to  occupy  such  offices  as  were  in  the  gift  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  was  appointed  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county; 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  at  one  time  post- 
master. But  in  truth  he  had  no  love  for  the  trammels  of 
office,  and  would  shrink  from  all  those  usual  arts  of  the  poli- 


6  MEMOIR  OF 

tician  to  secure  favor.  He  loved  his  independence,  nor  could 
he  afford  to  sacrifice  his  law  business  for  the  small  compen- 
sation and  loss  of  time  incident  to  holding  office  in  a  small 
village  still  in  the  woods,  and  in  a  county  hardly  organized. 
Very  early  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  higher  courts  of 
the  State.  In  subsequent  years  many  of  the  leading  lawyers 
of  that  part  of  the  State,  became  students  in  the  office  of 
Judge  Houghton.  Among  those  will  be  remembered  the 
names  of  Chauncy  Tucker,  Hanson  Eisley,  Cutler,  Brown, 
Hazelton,  and  James  Mullet;  and  others  well  known,  and  some 
eminent  members  of  the  bar,  of  western  New  York. 

Mr.  Houghton' s  reputation  for  ability  in  his  profession, 
for  scrupulous  attention  to  the  interests  of  clients,  for  sound 
advice  and  probity  of  conduct  was  not  excelled  by  any  man, 
either  in  the  profession  of  the  law  or  in  any  other  calling. 
These  qualities  gave  him  a  large  practice,  which  might,  or 
might  not  lead  to  fortune.  Judge  Houghton  was  of  a  com- 
panionable temper;  he  would  never  deny  himself  to  those  who 
needed  help.  His  yielding  nature  sympathized  with  the  hard- 
ships of  new  settlers  and  laborers,  who  were  making  homes 
in  the  wilderness  around  him.  These  sought  his  counsel  and 
his  aid.  If  his  law  practice  was  large,  his  good  nature  and 
benevolence  kept  pace  with  his  business,  and  often  went  in 
advance. 

If  a  new  country  like  that  now  being  settled  in  Ohautauqua 
county  offered  great  opportunities  for  shrewd  men  to  accumu- 
late property,  as  it  undoubtedly  did,  so  the  deprivation  to 
which  the  poor  are  exposed  is  a  perpetual  appeal  to  the  better 
feelings  of  the  kind  and  benevolent  spirits  who  are  able  to 
give  their  assistance.  Both  Judge  Houghton  and  his  wife 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  7 

were  widely  known  for  unobtrusive  charities,  for  thoughtful 
care  of  the  sick  and  poor,  far  and  near.  But  it  must  be 
admitted  that  this  spirit  was  not  the  spirit  of  money  making. 
Such  a  talent  Jacob  Houghton  did  not  possess.  He  had,  to  be 
sure,  all  the  application  and  the  ability  that  might  be  essential 
to  success,  but  while  his  professional  business  was  large,  this 
show  of  success  would  be  rather  seen  on  his  ledger  than  on 
his  bank  account;  for  it  was  too  true  if  the  debt  of  a  client 
was  on  his  books  for  one  hundred  dollars,  and  the  client  in 
the  meantime  should  be  in  need,  Judge  Houghton  would  lend 
him  fifty  dollars  and  forgive  him  the  balance  ! 

Mr.  Houghton  was  a  great  lover  of  books;  his  reading  had 
been  extensive,  especially  in  English  and  early  American  his- 
tory. "  His  library  was  well  supplied  with  such  works,  and  it 
was  rare  that  a  day  would  pass  without  a  reference  to  this 
storehouse  of  ideas.  This  love  for  solid  reading  was  imbibed 
by  his  children;  and  this  passion  for  learning,  thus  early  incul- 
cated has  been  a  marked  trait  through  life  of  all  members  of 
his  family.  These  circumstances  and  conditions  of  the  family 
of  Houghton,  have  been,  perhaps,  rather  unduly  dwelt  on; 
but  it  seemed  rather  called  for  to  enable  us  to  realize  the  influ- 
ences that  surrounded  the  childhood  and  earliest  days  of 
Douglass  Houghton,  the  subject  of  this  memoir.  The  devel- 
opment of  young  Douglass's  mental  powers  and  his  studies 
was  greatly  influenced  by  the  character  of  his  parents,  as  well 
as  by  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  place  and  opportunity. 
It  should  be  observed  that  Mrs.  Houghton  not  only  sympa- 
thized warmly  in  the  studies  and  advancement  of  her  chil- 
dren, but  like  other  noble  mothers  was  ready  at  all  times  to 
make  every  sacrifice  that  would  be  necessary  to  their  educa- 
tion. 


8  MEMOIR  OF 

The  family  now  was  a  large  one, — five  sons  and  two 
daughters.  The  highest  ambition  of  the  father  was  a 
thorough  education  for  his  children.  It  is  true,  this  desire 
for  culture,  would,  no  doubt,  interfere  somewhat  with  that 
early  discipline  and  initiation  into  business  of  a  more  practical 
kind — farming  or  trade — that  a  new,  wild  country  would  seem 
to  demand.  Even  the  limited  means  of  the  family  would 
seem  rather  to  suggest  some  trade  or  pursuit  that  would  bring 
quick  returns.  In  fact,  it  is  usually  difficult  to  restrain  boys 
from  entering  on  a  career  of  business  long  before  they  have 
mastered  even  the  rudiments  of  education. 

But  the  Houghton  boys  sympathized  with  the  ambition  of 
their  parents,  and  their  studies  began  very  early  in  life.  It 
may  be  said  the  first  passion  of  these  brothers  was  for  distinc- 
tion in  scholarship.  Alured,  the  eldest,  pursued  his  studies 
at  the  new  college  at  Meadville,  Penn.,  then  just  opened  for 
the  reception  of  students.  His  collegiate  course  was  com- 
pleted at  Geneva,  New  York. 

Mr.  Horace  Webster,  Prof,  of  mathematics  at  Geneva,  has 
said  to  the  writer  that  Alured  Houghton  was  an  accomplished 
scholar,  already  deeply  read  in  the  classics,  and  that  his  future 
eminence  was  certain  if  he  had  lived.  At  this  date,  Alured 
Houghton,  the  oldest  of  the  family,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  fol- 
lowing letters,  was  at  college,  Meadville,  Pa.  He  was  eleven 
years  old,  and  his  younger  brother  Douglass,  the  subject  of 
our  memoir,  was  nine  years  old.  We  insert  these  few  letters 
to  show  to  the  curious  reader  the  spirit  that  prevailed  among 
the  members  of  the  Houghton  family — it  is  not  often  that 
boys  are  studying  Latin  and  Greek  at  college  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years,  or  that  they  write  letters  in  these  languages  to 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  9 

brothers  of  nine  years.  Douglass  Houghton  was  born  Sep- 
tember 21,  1809;  he  was  the  fourth  child  born  to  his  parents; 
he  was  feeble  in  body  and  diminutive  in  size.  His  mother  has 
said  she  had  fears  that  she  could  not  raise  him.  But  his  intel- 
lect was  sound  and  bright,  quick  in  apprehension,  of  a  joyous 
nature,  sympathetic  and  sensitive.  As  he  grew  to  boyhood 
his  strength  and  health  were  assured;  he  was  no  recluse  or 
dreamer  in  boyhood.  He  mixed  readily  and  heartily  with 
those  of  his  age,  and  was  distinguished  for  bold  enterprise 
among  his  companions  at  the  age  of  six  years.  But  for  close 
intimacy  he  was  singularly  fastidious ;  not  every  boy  that 
trained  with  him  would  secure  his  confidence.  He  seemed  to 
have  at  this  early  period  that  instinctive  estimate  of  character 
that  ever  distinguished  him  through  life.  His  figure,  even  for 
a  boy,  was  small,  but  it  was  instinct  with  nerve  and  activity.  In 
temper  he  was  quick  and  resolute,  a  little  obstinate,  perhaps; 
his  decisions  were  prompt,  like  those  of  a  commander,  and  his 
boyish  plans  were  matured  without  much  consulting  others. 
In  1824  the  Fredonia  Academy  was  organized  and  established. 
Douglass,  with  his  younger  brother  Eichard,  were  among  its 
earlier  pupils.  He  had  now  at  home  for  his  companions  his 
two  sisters  Lydia  and  Sarah,  and  his  brothers  Alexander  and 
Eichard.  Jacob,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  not  old 
enough  to  join  in  these  studies.  Alured,  the  eldest,  had 
completed  his  studies  at  Geneva  College  and  had  been  called 
to  Baton  Eouge,  Louisiana,  to  take  charge  of  an  academy 
which  had  been  recently  opened  there.  Soon  after  his  arrival 
there  he  was  taken  sick  and  fell  a  victim  to  the  fever  that 
prevailed.  The  death  of  this  son  who  .had  been  admirably 
educated,  and  whose  life  with  every  bright  prospect,  had,  as  it 


10  MEMOIR  OF 

were  just  commenced  —  that  is  the  life  of  manhood  —  was  a 
severe  blow  to  his  parents,  a  profound  sorrow  to  all  members 
of  his  family. 

After  the  lapse  of  so  many  years,  we  must  not  expect  to 
recover  many  traits  or  incidents  of  the  early  boyhood  career 
of  Douglass  Houghton.  All  his  faculties  were  developed 
early;  in  the  midst  of  play  he  was  a  student,  not  always,  per- 
haps, according  to  academy  rules;  no  doubt  he  often  vexed  his 
teachers.  In  truth  the  traditions  of  the  old  Academy  at 
Fredonia  tell  us  of  sundry  pranks  and  exploits  not  laid  down 
in  the  list  of  allowable  pastimes.  Sometimes  it  would  be  a 
pumpkin  mask,  lit  up  with  a  candle  to  frighten  obnoxious 
students;  again  he  would  be  leading  his  trained  company  of 
boys  around  the  academy  walls,  uttering  groans  to  disturb  the 
school  or  to  express  disapproval  of  the  master's  discipline. 
Such  outbursts  of  temper  are  not  very  serious  and  they  do  not 
last.  They  come  less  from  any  vicious  traits  of  character  than 
from  the  buoyant  outflow  of  spirits  and  that  irrepressible 
disposition  of  the  young  to  do  something  heroic.  Douglass 
had  ways  of  his  own  to  master  his  lessons  and  gain  time  for 
other  studies  not  connected  with  the  academy  course.  The 
eldest  brother,  as  has  been  mentioned,  was  at  college  at  an  age 
that  might  appear  premature,  as  he  was  already  a  good  Latin 
and  Greek  scholar.  Alexander  had  mastered  his  Latin  and 

Greek  and  had  shown/  all  through  life  a  strong  taste   for 

fctVUdA  Vc*         tf 
classical  literature.    y^C^^W'Mafr-lfria.  a  gentle  and  amiable 


nature,  beloved  of  his  sisters  with  more  than  usual  affection, 
was  strongly  inclined  to  scholarship.  Soon  after  Douglass 
settled  in  Detroit  Eichard  commenced  his  studies  as  a  medical 
student  in  his  office.  But  during  the  season  of  the  cholera  of 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  11 

1834,  Bichard,  who  was  of  a  delicate  constitution,  fell  a  victim 
to  its  ravages. 

Douglass,  not  behindhand  in  the  usual  studies  of  the  new 
academy,  and  sufficiently  skilled  in  Latin,  showed  a  strong 
bent  towards  the  natural  sciences.  It  will  soon  be  seen  how 
strong  was  this  tendency  of  his  mind,  and  how  admirably 
fitted  he  was  to  grapple  with  these  subjects  and  to  master 
them. 

The  Houghton  homestead  that  had  been  built  or  finished 
in  1813,  continued  to  be  the  home  of  this  family;  it  was  in  fact 
a  home  and  school  house,  the  academy  and  college,  for  these 
brothers  and  sisters.  They  were  indeed  more  than  usually 
united  by  natural  affections,  by  a  community  of  studies  and 
by  a  profound  love  of  parents  and  home.  An  orchard,  still 
in  bearing,  (1888)  was  planted  early;  it  extends  some  rods  on 
the  slope  back  of  the  house  and  embraces  two  or  three  acres. 
A  row  of  noble  locust  trees  extends  along  the  whole  front  of 
the  premises  for  four  or  five  hundred  feet.  These  were 
brought  from  Mayville,  as  slender  cuttings  that  Judge 
Houghton  secured  within  the  leg  of  his  boot,  traversing  the 
woods  on  horseback.  The  Houghton  house  occupies  the 
highest  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  Fredonia,  overlooking  the 
beautiful  village  embosomed  among  trees.  At  the  west  and 
north  the  eye  takes  in  a  stretch  of  farm  land  that  slopes  gently 
to  lake  Erie;  the  lake  itself  is  seen  through  copse  and  over 
groups  of  the  elm  and  sycamore.  The  Canadaway  stream  of 
considerable  volume  traverses  the  village.  From  the  house  it 
is  seen  at  the  foot  of  the  hill;  its  beautiful  and  rapid  waters 
sparkle  as  they  find  their  way  between  high  banks  and  through 
open  glades  to  the  lake,  two  miles  distant,  while  on  the  south 


12  MEMOIR  OF    ( 

the  hills  of  Chautauqua,  rising  into  elevations  of  from  six  to 
eight  hundred  feet,  yield  the  scenery  that  is  often  bold  and 
always  picturesque;  and  these  trending  to  the  west,  skirting 
the  lake  shore,  offer  to  the  eye  a  noble  range,  softened  by  the 
haze  or  purple  of  distance,  and .  diversified  by  cultivated 
farms,  by  orchards  and  vineyards,  by  embossed  dells,  by 
groves  and  by  virgin  forests. 

A  few  rods  from  the  house,  just  back  of  the  orchard  where 
the  ground  slopes  suddenly,  the  boys  had  excavated  a  room  or 
cellar  in  the  bank,  and  this,  with  a  roof  extending  over  the 
doorway  and  covered  with  turf,  gave  the  Houghton  boys  a 
study  large  enough  to  admit  three  or  four  persons.  This 
primitive  school  room  was  devoted  exclusively  to  hard  study; 
no  play,  no  cards  or  amusement  of  any  kind  were  permitted 
here.  It  was  a  sort  of  close- communion  troglodyte  college. 
It  was  here  that  these  earnest  students  would  retreat  to  master 
all  their  severe  studies  without  interruption;  it  was  here,  as 
much  as  in  the  academy,  that  they  perfected  that  self  disci- 
pline which  prepared  them  for  their  after  career  in  life.  None 
of  the  boys  of  the  village,  rarely  even  their  companions  in 
school,  were  ever  admitted  here,  none  but  the  two  sisters, 
whose  studies  received  the  aid  that  loving  brothers  could  give. 
It  may  be  considered  by  some  that  such  slight  incidents  as 
these  should  hardly  be  deemed  important,  but  it  must  be 
remembered  how  much  these  earlier  habits  enable  us  to  see 
the  influences  that  strengthen  character  and  give  the  assurance 
of  success  in  life's  struggles.  The  writer  of  this  memoir 
remembers  well  visiting  this  rustic  study  of  the  Houghton 
boys  as  early  as  1838.  It  was  then^somewhat  dilapidated,  but 
still  sufficiently  intact  to  admit  a  visitor  and  to  show  him  the 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  13 

seats  and  crude  shelves  that  were  wont  to  accommodate  these 
youthful  Greeks.  Since  that  period  the  scythe  and  plow,  time 
and  the  elements,  have  levelled  the  slope  and  obliterated  all 
traces  of  this  rustic  sanctum  of  Douglass  Houghton, 

At  a  very  youthful  period  Douglass  had  been  recommended 
as  a  candidate  to  the  Van  Benssaeler  scientific  school  at  Troy, 
New  York.  This  polytechnic  school  was  founded  by  the 
Patroon  Van  Eenssaeler,  and  at  this  time  was  under  the  charge 
of  Prof.  Eaton,  so  well  known  as  a  distinguished  educator. 
Here  Douglass  graduated  and  received  his  diploma  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts,  in  1828.  Within  a  few  months  after  this  well  earned 
honor  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  assistant  professor  in 
the  branches  of  chemistry  and  natural  history  in  this  same 
institution,  conferred  on  him  by  Prof.  Eaton.  At  this  time 
he  was  nineteen  years  old.  In  1830  some  friends  of  science  in 
Detroit,  including  such  men  as  Gen.  Cass,  then  Governor  of 
the  Territory  of  Michigan,  Maj .  John  Biddle,  Col.  Henry  Whi- 
ting, E.  P.  Hastings,  Shubal  Conant,  Bev.'Dr.  Berry,  and  others, 
applied  to  Prof.  Eaton  to  recommend  to  them  a  person  to  deliver 
a  course  of  public  lectures  on  the  sciences  of  chemistry,  botany 
and  geology.  The  Hon.  Lucius  Lyon,  then  a  delegate  in 
Congress  from  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  on  his  return  from 
Washington,  called  on  Prof.  Eaton  at  Troy,  as  the  leading 
scientific  educator  in  this,  country,  to  make  the  proper  in- 
quiries j  for  it  should  be  remembered  that  lecturers  were  not  so 
easily  found  then  as  at  present,  nor  was  it  an  easy  or 
inexpensive  experiment  to  traverse  new  states  by  stage  for 
this  purpose.  Prof.  Eaton  listened  to  Mr.  Lyon's  request,  then 
arose,  opened  the  door  of  the  little  labratory  adjoining,  and 
calling  him  by  his  familiar  name  of  Douglass,  introduced  the 


14  MEMOIR  OF 

young  philosopher  to  the  member  of  congress; — for  he  was 
but  a  boy  in  appearance,  as  indeed  almost  so  in  age.  Mr. 
Lyon,  a  gentleman  reserved  in  manner  and  of  much  dignity, 
was  not  a  little  surprised  at  such  a  presentation.  He  could 
hardly  believe  Prof.  Eaton  to  be  in  earnest.  Could  he  pro- 
pose to  send  a  mere  pupil,  a  boy  student,  still  in  his  teens,  to 
discourse  on  subjects  of  science,  and  to  address  men  of  mature 
culture,  conversant  with  the  great  outlines  of  the  natural 
sciences,  for  such  as  these  he  would  certainly  encounter  in 
Detroit ! 

But  Mr.  Lyon  was  soon  convinced  that  young  Houghton 
was  competent  to  fill  such  a  mission;  nor  did  the  youthful  pro- 
fessor hesitate  for  a  moment.  Prof.  Eaton  had  implicit  confi- 
dence in  his  ability  to  acquit  himself  with  credit  and  honor, 
and  while  retaining  his  professorship  in  the  Van  Eenssaeler 
institute,  at  the  special  request  of  his  friend,  he  gathered  up 
his  simple  apparatus  to  serve  for  illustration  and  experiment, 
visited  his  parents  for  a  few  days  at  Fredonia,  then  departed 
by  stage  and  boat  for  that  small  but  ancient  settlement  on  the 
Detroit  river — that  future  city  of  the  straits  and  beautiful 
metropolis  of  a  great  and  wealthy  State.  At  that  time  it  was 
known  only  as  an  old  French  town,  a  border  military  post 
touching  the  Indian  country.  Houghton  brought  letters  to 
several  prominent  citizens,  and  warmed  by  the  prospect  of 
success,  confident  in  his  knowledge  and  capacity,  with  these 
lectures  and  thus  invited,  commenced  the  career  of  Douglass 
Houghton  in  the  State  of  his  adoption. 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  15 


CHAPTEE  II. 

SUCCESS  IN  DETROIT  —  SCHOOLCRAFT  EXPEDITION — SCIEN- 
TIFIC STUDIES — SCHEME  FOR  NATURAL  HISTORY  SURVEY 
OF  MICHIGAN. 

Douglass  Hough  ton's  subsequent  advancement  to  positions 
of  trust,  honor  and  responsibility  was  a  matter  of  pride  to 
the  citizens  of  Detroit,  for  they  had  assurance  that  every 
office  he  should  occupy  would  be  raised  and  honored  by  his 
genius  and  integrity.  Even  before  leaving  Fredonia  for  the 
institute  at  Troy,  before  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  he 
had  found  the  time  to  study  medicine  under  the  direction  of 
his  father's  friend,  Dr.  White,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
by  the  medical  society  of  Chautauqua  county,  in  the  spring 
of  1831. 

No  man  who  has  ever  entered  into  business  or  in  a 
professional  career  in  the  State  of  Michigan  so  speedily 
won  to  himself  such  a  body  of  able,  enthusiastic  friends  as 
Douglass  Houghton.  These  friends  were  not  confined  to  the 
city  of  Detroit,  where  the  charm  of  a  daily  intercourse  might 
to  some  extent  account  for  this  popularity;  they  could  be 
counted  by  scores  all  through  the  State.  Even  now,  after  a 
lapse  of  more  than  forty  years  since  his  death,  his  memory  is 
cherished  iwith  enthusiasm,  mingled  with  a  tenderness  that 


16  MEMOIR  OF 

can  only  be  explained  by  those  who  were  intimate  with  the 
man.  A  stranger  looking  over  the  map  of  Michigan  will 
•  observe  that  a  township,  a  county,  a  lake,  a  city,  each  bears 
the  name  of  Houghton;  one  of  the  union  free  schools  of 
Detroit  carries  this  name,  and  his  labors  and  gifts  at  Ann 
Arbor  make  it  certain  that  the  honored  name  of  Houghton 
will  long  be  cherished  at  the  seat  of  the  University. 

It  seems  due  the  memory  of  such  a  man  that  we  inquire 
into  the  cause  and  origin  of  these  unusual  honors  and  homage 
bestowed  on  one  so  young,  at  first  without  friends  and  without 
money.  The  leading  men  of  Michigan  now  were  boys,  or 
were  unborn,  when  the  name  of  Houghton  was  the  most 
familiar  name  spoken  in  all  her  borders.  The  generation  that 
knew  Douglass  Houghton  is  rapidly  passing  away,  but  his 
name  should  not  pass  out  of  the  memory  of  men.  Houghton' s 
life  was  a  brief  one,  but  it  was  fall  of  purpose  and  activity, 
of  energy  and  achievement.  We  will  try  to  gather  the 
records  of  his  labors,  his  intercourse  with  public  men,  his 
explorations  and  discoveries;  and  these  will  reveal  to  us  the 
secret  of  his  power  and  will  illustrate  the  rare  traits  of  his 
character. 

When  he  landed  in  Detroit  his  resources  were  but  slight; 
but  he  had  courage,  and  that  indomitable  energy  which  insures 
success.  He  was  struggling,  indeed,  to  earn  the  means  to 
carry  on  his  studies  and  lectures.  He  was  not  yet  twenty 
years  old,  a  total  stranger  save  through  the  letters  that  made 
him  known.  To  be  sure,  he  had  money  left  in  his  wallet — it 
was  just  one  dime !  He  commenced  his  lectures  in  the  old 
Council  House  on  Jefferson  avenue.  His  enthusiasm,  the 
thorough  knowledge  of  his  subject,  the  precision  of  his 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  17 

thoughts,  the  artless  manner  of  the  young  scientist,  carried 
his  audience  with  him,  and  soon  rendered  larger  rooms  nec- 
cessary.  His  talents  secured  the  confidence  of  the  leading 
men  of  the  city  and  brought  friends.  These  friends  stood  by 
him;  his  success  as  a  lecturer  was  assured.  And  though 
impediments  might  for  a  moment  discourage  him,  they  were 
but  slight,  for  he  speedily  triumphed  over  all.  These  new 
scenes,  the  friends  he  made,  these  lectures,  the  crowd  that 
pressed  in  to  secure  seats,  are  all  modestly  related  in  filial 
letters  to  his  parents.  It  was  only  a  few  months  after  his 
arrival  in  Detroit  that  he  received  the  appointment  of  surgeon 
and  botanist  to  the  expedition  for  the  discovery  of  the  sources 
of  the  Mississippi,  organized  under  the  direction  of  Henry  R. 
Schoolcraft,  whose  distinguished  career  was  then  just  opening, 
and  whose  subsequent  labors  have  conferred  honor  on  his 
country.  The  Hon.  Bela  Hubbard,  so  well  known  in  this 
state,  and  long  attached  to  the  Geological  Survey  of  Michigan, 
as  Assistant  Geologist,  says  that  "Houghton's  report  on  the 
botany  of  that  then  remote  and  unexplored  region  displayed 
not  only  an  extensive  acquaintance  with  that  science,  but  his 
researches  did  much  to  extend  our  knowledge  of  the  flora  of 
the  Northwest."  When  we  consider  that  at  this  time  he  had 
hardly  reached  his  majority,  it  is  impossible  to  withhold  our 
admiration  of  that  firmness  of  temper  and  that  vigor  of 
genius  that  enabled  him  to  achieve  success  so  early.  Prom 
1832  to  1836  he  practiced  as  physician  and  surgeon  in  Detroit; 
he  united  also  the  skill  of  a  dentist,  in  which  he  was  consid- 
ered an  adept.  But  in  the  midst  of  an  extensive  practice  he 
never  relaxed  his  studies  in  natural  science. 

(2) 


18  MEMOIB  OF 

It  is  to  the  credit  of  the  citizens  of  Detroit,  and  should  be 
remembered,  that  Dr.  Houghton  was  not  only  welcomed  with 
confidence  and  with  open  hearts,  but  he  was  warmly  and 
efficiently  sustained.  The  friends  he  made  then  he  never  lost, 
and  these  were  among  the  best  men  of  the  state,  and  not  a 
few  of  historical  interest.  Here  were  Governor  Cass,  Dr. 
Zina  Pitcher,  Lucius  Lyon,  Judge  Campbell,  father  of  the 
present  Chief  Justice,  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  Dr.  Eice,  the  two 
Hubbards — Henry  and  Bela — Chancellor  Farnsworth,  Henry 
S.  Cole,  Edmund  Brush,  Col.  Whiting,  John  Owen,  and  a 
little  later  Stephens  T.  Mason,  the  youthful  and  gifted  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State.  These,  with  many  others,  were  warm, 
stable  friends  of  young  Houghton. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  1834  that  the  writer  of  this 
memoir  first  formed  his  acquaintance.  During  that  season, 
when  the  cholera  visited  Detroit  with  such  fearful  and  fatal 
results,  no  one  could  be  more  devoted  or  make  greater  sacri- 
fices to  solace  the  sick  and  dying  than  young  Houghton;  and 
it  is  known  that  in  the  perilous  exercise  of  his  profession,  in 
the  midst  of  suffering  and  panic,  amid  the  appalling  progress 
of  a  mysterious  and  terrific  scourge,  he  stood  firm  and  self- 
possessed.  Much  of  these  labors  would  be  gratuitous.  He 
hastened  to  the  bedside  of  the  poor  and  deserted,  as  well  as  to 
the  rich,  and  like  others  of  his  profession  thought  only  of  duty 
and  humanity.  If  not  always  in  money,  the  reward  would 
come,  the  most  acceptable  to  a  true  physician,  the  grateful 
remembrance  of  those  who  had  recovered  under  his  faithful 
attendance. 

Tl*ere  are  certain  tendencies  to  special  pursuits,  which  if 
we  could  always  trace  to  their  origin,  would  explain  why  one 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  19 

man  has  devoted  his  life  to  law,  another  to  theology,  one  to 
science  and  one  to  art.  In  some  families  this  diversity  of 
pursuit  is  as  great  as  though  there  had  been  no  common 
influences  acting  at  once  on  all  members  of  the  same  family. 
No  doubt  the  cause  of  this  diversity  of  development  would  be 
found  if  we  were  able  to  carry  our  investigations  far  back  into 
the  first  impressions  of  childhood.  While  the  boy  Houghton 
was  a  student  in  the  Fredonia  academy  from  its  foundation, 
yet  long  before  his  serious  studies  here,  the  common  school 
had  offered  its  advantages;  and  his  mind  had  received  the 
loving  discipline  of  a  home  culture.  A  few  hours  of  the  day 
served  for  the  mastery  of  his  lesson,  the  balance  might  find 
him  boating  down  the  Canadaway  Creek,  or  setting  traps  for 
the  muskrat;  or  while  threading  streams  on  fishing  excursions, 
or  hunting  in  the  neighboring  woods  for  the  black  squirrel, 
his  taste  for  natural  science  would  be  nourished.  Every  bird 
he  shot,  every  chipmunk  he  brought  down  from  its  hiding 
place,  the  spotted  trout  from  the  hill  streams,  the  wild  flowers, 
the  stately  tulip  trees  with  their  imperial  blossoms,  the  rocks 
that  cropped  out  from  the  sides  of  gorges — each  and  all  of 
these  were  his  teachers.  They  offered  lessons  pregnant  with 
meaning  to  a  mind  so  quick,  so  curious  and  so  independent. 

After  he  entered  the  academy  he  showed  some  aversion  to 
classical  studies — especially  to  Latin,  and  perhaps  in  a  less 
degree,  to  arithmetic.  We  can  see  causes  for  this,  and  may 
remember  what  new  and  improved  methods  attract  and 
beguile  the  reluctant  student  in  these  unsavory  studies.  An 
eminent  English  author,  himself  an  Oxford  man,  has  said 
"That  any  one  who  has  passed  through  the  regular  giadua- 
tion  of  a  classical  education  and  is  not  made  a  fool  of  by  it, 


20  MEMOIR  OF 

may  consider  himself  as  having  had  a  very  narrow  escape ;" 
while  on  the  contrary,  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  remarked,  that  he 
would  have  given  half  his  fame  could  he  have  been  well 
grounded  in  the  Latin  language!      We  must  not  give  too 
much  weight  to  the  opinions  of  those  who  feel  that  they  have 
lost  time  in  classical  studies.     The  knowledge  they  bring  is 
very  precious.     We  would  sympathize  more  cordially  with 
McCauley's  words,  expressing  his  disgust  and  horror  of  math- 
ematics.    Douglass's  father  never  relaxed  his  interest  in  the 
thorough  education  of  his  children.     His  reverence  for  schol- 
arship was  great;  he  was  indulgent  in  most  matters  affecting 
his  boys,  but  he  desired  them  to  be  faithful  and  earnest  in  all 
their  studies  in  the  academy.     But  indeed,  Douglass  seemed 
to  have  lost  his  interest  in  the  study  of  Latin,  which  gave  his 
father  much  uneasiness.     A  friend  of  the  family,  Dr.  Wai- 
worth,  a  gentleman  of  liberal  education,  advised  Mr.  Houghton 
to  have  his  son  drop  these  classical  studies  for  the  present, 
and  to  allow  Douglass  to  pursue  botany  and  other  kindred 
sciences,  to  which  he  seemed  strongly  inclined.    This  judicious 
advice  was  accepted,  and  no  doubt  the  after  career  of  young 
Houghton  was  shaped  in  no  inconsiderable  degree  by  these 
well  timed  and  friendly  suggestions.     With  his  ardent  tem- 
perament, he  will  be  found  within  a  few  brief  years,  ready  to 
aid  in  every  liberal  enterprise  that  appeals  to  him  in  the 
growing  city  of  his  adoption.      He  had  quick  sympathies  and 
a    clear  judgment.     The  Young  Men's  Literary  Society  of 
Detroit,   was  organized   in  1832  ;    he  was  elected   its  first 
vice-president.      He   would   be   among  the  active   teachers 
of  the  Sunday  school  of  the  church  in  which  he  was  nur- 
tured. 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  21 

But  as  it  has  been  seen,  long  before  he  came  to  Detroit, 
before  he  had  been  appointed  assistant  professor  in  the  insti- 
tute at  Troy,  while  yet  in  Fredonia,  his  mind  had  been  strongly 
bent  toward  the  natural  sciences.  A  remarkable  phenomonen 
near  the  homestead  awakened  his  inquisitive  spirit.  Even  at 
the  age  of  ten  years,  he  was  attracted  by  the  presence  of  a 
gas  observed  to  rise  spontaneously  in  the  bed  of  the  Canada - 
way  Creek ;  older  men,  of  course,  were  not  ignorant  of  this ; — 
long  before  the  white  man  had  penetrated  these  forests,  the 
Indians  had  noticed  its  presence.  But  the  boy  Houghton 
began  to  investigate  it.  Mr.  Hanson  Risley  informs  the 
writer  that  he  remembers  Douglass  Houghton  gathering  the 
light  fluid  in  a  bottle,  and  afterwards  setting  fire  to  it, — and 
Mrs.  Eisley  recalled,  when  a  girl  at  school,  being  alarmed  one 
day  by  the  rumor  that  Douglass,  in  some  wanton  freak, 
threatened  to  burn  up  the  Canadaway  stream,  and  she  and 
her  companions  hastened  to  get  out  of  the  way! 

His  mother,  living  to  the  great  age  of  ninety-two,  has  told 
the  writer,  that  Douglass,  one  day,  brought  up  to  the  house 
some  gas  in  his  hat,  and  there  lit  it  in  her  presence  to  con- 
vince her  that  it  was  a  burning  fluid.  He  thus  commenced 
his  philosophical  investigations  while  a  student;  almost  a 
school  boy  and  before  he  entered  the  academy.  Even  at  this 
early  day  he  was  looking  into  the  mystery  of  the  things  about 
him.  In  the  boy  we  see  the  man.  His  mind  would  be  analy- 
tic; too  bold  and  active  to  feel  at  ease  in  the  pursuit  of  class- 
ical studies.  Even  mathematics  would  have  but  a  partial 
hold  on  him,  except  as  they  might  promote  the  more  practical 
investigations  of  science.  He  was  the  observer  of  nature 
thus  early  and  throughout  his  brief  life.  Not  so  much  the 


22  MEMOIR  OF 

artist,  who  studies  the  harmonies  of  color,  and  the  significance 
of  form  and  expression,  as  the  naturalist  or  chemist,  who  see- 
ing changes  going  on  in  nature,  is  compelled  to  investigate  the 
causes  of  such  changes,  or  the  means  by  which  they  may  be 
reproduced.  His  younger  brother,  Bichard,  constructed  an 
orrery  to  aid  the  classes  in  astronomy,  and  this  was  long  used 
in  the  academy.  Douglass,  in  the  meantime,  grappled  with 
the  subject  of  electricity,  and  the  garret  of  the  old  Houghton 
house  may  still  offer  evidences  of  these  labors  in  the  form  of 
sundry  jars,  glass  tubes  and  circles,  by  which  the  young  phil- 
osopher tried  his  hand  at  these  nice  manipulations.  He 
repeated  the  experiment  of  the  Italian  savant  on  a  frog,  with 
success.  The  family  dog,  old  Prince,  so  called,  was  often 
aroused  from  his  day's  slumber  by  an  electric  spark  cautiously 
applied  to  his  nose.  It  must  have  been  as  early  as  1825  or 
1826,  when  Douglass  engaged  in  the  enterprise  of  making  an 
explosive  powder,  for  we  still  have  to  notice  his  active  energies 
before  leaving  Fredonia  for  Troy. 

A  young  man,  a  school  companion,  by  the  name  of  Wm. 
Hart,  discovered,  jointly  with  Houghton  perhaps,  a  method 
of  making  a  coarse  grained  powder,  to  be  used  on  the  pan- 
lock  of  the  gun — the  cap  had  not  then  been  invented.  Hart 
would  need  a  chemist  and  a  knowledge  of  detail,  which  he 
did  not  possess  himself.  These  boys  entered  into  a  sort  of  part- 
nership, Houghton  furnishing  his  portion  of  brains  and  purpose, 
with  some  money.  Just  back  of  the  orchard  on  the  Houghton 
premises,  some  twenty  rods  from  the  house,  is  a  branch  of  the 
Canada  way  creek  that,  crossing  the  field  through  a  gorge,  and 
falling  from  a  ledge  of  rocks  five  or  six  feet  in  height,  gives  a 
water  power  of  considerable  force.  The  quick  eye  of  young 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  23 

Houghton  saw  that  he  could  obtain  the  power  necessary  to 
carry  on  his  machinery,  and  very  soon  the  young  philosopher 
was  seen  busy  fitting  up  suitable  structures  to  receive  the 
various  materials  and  the  apparatus  necessary  to  carry  on  the 
enterprise  of  manufacturing  powder.  We  do  not  know  how 
long  these  labors  were  continued,  but  not  long,  perhaps  a 
year.  It  was  not  without  some  success,  as  the  powder  was 
offered  and  sold  readily  in  a  limited  market.  But  for  some 
reason  that  cannot  be  known  now,  it  did  not  prove  profitable. 
At  all  events  the  powder  mill  met  with  a  sudden  and  disas- 
trous termination.  Douglass  Houghton  was  alone  in  the  mill 
at  this  time;  he  was  carrying  a  pan  of  powder  from  one  room 
to  another;  in  passing  a  stove  perhaps,  a  spark,  it  is  thought, 
fell  on  the  contents  of  the  pan,  which  instantly  exploded;  the 
shock  threw  Douglass  through  the  door,  a  sudden  rebound 
carried  him  back  again,  prostrating  him  to  the  floor.  He 
rose  to  his  feet,  not  realizing  for  the  moment  the  amount  or 
the  nature  of  the  injuries  he  had  received.  He  had  the 
presence  of  mind  to  close  the  door,  and  plunging  his  head  and 
arms  into  the  floom  to  subdue  the  pain  he  suffered;  then  with 
dimmed  vision,  and  ignorant  as  yet  of  the  extent  of  the  dis- 
aster, he  made  his  darkened  way  through  the  orchard  to  the 
house.  His  mother  has  described  his  appearance  on  that 
fearful  occasion.  We  do  not  know,  he  hardly  knew,  how  he 
reached  the  house.  His  face  was  blackened  with  powder,  his 
hair  was  nearly  burnt  off,  his  eyebrows  singed,  the  skin 
of  his  face,  hands  and  arms  burnt  and  crisped,  but  he 
staggered  to  the  arms  of  his  mother  bewildered  with  suffering. 
A  beautiful  instance  of  his  tenderness  even  in  this  dark 
moment  shall  be  mentioned  here.  On  first  reaching  the  well 


24  MEMOIR*  OF 

he  attempted  to  draw  water  to  render  his  appearance  to  his 
mother  less  shocking;  but  at  this  moment  she  first  caught  a 
glimpse  of  him,  hardly  knowing  her  own  son.  "  Don't  be 
alarmed,  dear  mother;  I  am  not  much  hurt."  These  were 
his  first  words.  His  mother  describes  him  to  the  writer  as 
the  most  dreadful  sight  she  ever  beheld.  In  a  few  hours  he 
was  totally  blind.  It  was  long  before  he  recovered  from  these 
injuries.  But  the  vigor  of  youth,  the  faithful  attention  of  his 
father's  friend,  Dr.  Wai  worth,  with  those  tender  cares  that 
come  from  a  mother's  love,  ere  long  restored  the  youthful 
philosopher  to  health  and  vision. 

The  science  of  botany  had  early  engaged  his  attention. 
Geology,  less  attractive  to  the  young,  soon  divided  his  interest, 
and  these  studies  became  a  passion  with  him.  He  could  not 
pick  up  a  pebble  but  his  mind  would  dispose  of  its  geological 
relations  or  its  mineral  qualities. 

In  crossing  a  fence  you  might  see  him  seize  the  shield  or 
cocoon  of  a  moth,  hidden  to  ordinary  eyes,  place  it  carefully 
in  his  pocket,  and  on  his  return  to  the  house  put  it  in  a  safe 
place  where  he  could  detect  its  final  exit.  But  he  was  never 
a  mere  collector  of  specimens,  an  amateur,  in  science.  He 
would  master  the  principles  that  must  underlie  all  scientific 
studies.  He  was  a  great  reader,  and  before  he  became  so 
absorbed  by  his  various  duties  in  Michigan,  he  had  found  the 
time  to  read  history,  especially  English  and  American.  The 
example  of  his  father  had  quickened  his  taste.  A  friend  and 
companion,  Judge  Samuel  Douglass,  tells  the  writer  that 
while  young  Houghton  was  recovering  from  the  powder 
explosion,  and  after  he  could  use  his  eyes  with  safety,  he 
beguiled  his  time  in  reading  Homer's  Iliad.  But  his  reading 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  25 

outside  of  special  science  could  not  be  extensive.  He  had  not 
the  time  for  the  cultivation  of  a  literary  .taste,  and  no  time 
would  in  the  future  offer  to  him  the  leisure  for  these  more 
elegant  studies,  such  as  had  won  and  distinguished  his  older 
brother  Alured.  But  he  loved  music,  and  often  beguiled  a 
few  moments  by  taking  his  flute.  Indeed  he  performed  on 
this  instrument  with  great  taste  and  feeling.  He  would  leave 
the  drudgery  of  office  labors  now  and  then,  come  up  stairs  to 
the  parlor,  and  join  his  sisters  in  a  brief  concert. 

His  memory  was  tenacious,  what  he  read  he  retained,  and 
this  not  in  a  loose,  desultory  way.  Even  after  his  professional 
and  scientific  studies  had  entirely  absorbed  every  hour  of  the 
day,  he  would  still  find  a  moment  to  indulge  in  this  earlier 
taste.  A  new  history  or  biography  would  arrest  his  attention. 
It  is  remembered  when  Botta's  excellent  history  of  the  United 
States  first  appeared,  the  Doctor  could  hardly  lay  down  the 
volume  till  its  pages  were  devoured. 

He  had  an  excellent  judgment  and  a  taste  for  didactic  and 
epic  poetry,  and  would  select  the  best  reading  for  his  sisters. 
He  had  read  the  Iliad  of  Homer,  and  Virgil  was  not  a 
stranger  to  him. 

But  all  these  studies  and  indulgences  must  now  be  post- 
poned. Already  the  professional  demands  on  his  time,  and 
the  scheme  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State  were  occupy- 
ing all  his  powers  and  filling  that  active  brain  with  plans  for 
its  achievement. 

It  was  in  the  year  1837  that  Dr.  Houghton  matured  the 
scheme  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State  of  Michigan. 
There  were  few,  if  any  persons  in  the  State  at  that  period 
whose  acquirements  fitted  them  to  give  council  even  in  a  plan 


26  MEMOIR  OF 

of  this  nature,  and  in  consequence  the  labor  and  responsibility 
of  projecting  and  maturing  such  a  survey  would  devolve 
almost  wholly  on  him.  Since  that  time  so  many  Geological 
Surveys  of  States  have  been  organized  that  such  a  labor 
would  now  be  greatly  lessened.  But  Dr.  Houghton  had  no 
example  or  model  applicable  to  the  state  of  Michigan  to  guide 
him.  He  proposed  to  himself  a  system  that  should  comprise 
four  departments  or  divisions,  geology,  zoology,  botany  and 
topography,  each  having  its  official  head,  and  all  united  under 
the  general  guidance  of  the  State  Geologist. 

It  would  be  necessary  that  this  plan  should  be  brought 
before  the  Legislature,  and  it  must  be  approved  by  that  body. 
The  members  of  the  Legislature  were  assuredly  not  familiar 
with  the  facts  or  the  value  of  geology,  in  any  sense,  either 
as  an  economic  or  as  a  theoretic  science.  The  departments  of 
zoology  and  botany  might  appear  to  them  even  of  very  little 
practical  or  public  importance.  Michigan  had  just  entered 
into  the  great  family  of  States;  she  was  as  yet  inexperienced 
in  public  works  of  all  kinds.  She  was  poor,  her  people  were 
sparsely  scattered  over  a  wide  field  of  dense  forests,  prairies 
or  oak  openings.  The  members  of  the  Legislature  were 
mainly  farmers  or  merchants,  hard-working,  practical  men, 
timid  from  inexperience,  and  economical  from  habit  and 
necessity.  They  made  no  pretense  to  a  knowledge  of  science, 
they  would  be  jealous  of  all  attempts  at  unnecessary  expendi- 
tures of  money,  they  knew  well  how  hard  it  was  to  pay  taxes. 
But  it  was  necessary  that  these  plain,  practical  men  should  be 
convinced  that  geology  was  not  only  a  noble,  true  science, 
that  its  development  would  redound  to  the  honor  of  the  new 
State  of  Michigan,  but  that  the  State  Survey  would  be 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  27 

accomplished  within  a  reasonable  period  of  time,  and  above 
all  that  it  would  pay.  It  is  honorable  alike  to  Houghton  and 
to  the  State  of  Michigan,  that  at  the  early  period  of  her  inde- 
pendent existence  she  was  willing  to  appropriate  some  eight 
or  ten  thousand  dollars  for  this  noble  object.  On  his  part,  it 
had  required  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  science  of  geology, 
its  prospective  bearing  on  the  polity  of  the  commonwealth, 
confidence  in  himself,  knowledge  of  men,  tact,  vigilance, 
courage  and  labor.  He,  indeed,  possessed  all  these  qualities, 
and  he  accomplished  his  purpose.  It  is  true  he  would  meet 
with  active,  honest  opposition.  Under  such  circumstances 
there  will  be  always  found  some  narrow  minded,  some  ignor- 
ant, some  obstinate  and  in  opposition,  from  constitutional 
meanness,  or  habitual  pugnacity.  Some  would  try  their  hand 
at  satire  or  ridicule,  but  all  the  arrows  of  ridicule  directed 
against  himself  or  his  pursuits,  or  insinuations  of  his  boyish 
inexperience  and  incompetency,  he  met  with  good  humor,  a 
sagacious  knowledge  of  the  men  who  opposed,  with  wit  and 
with  unshaken  good  temper.  All  these  a  man  can  afford  to 
wield  when  he  is  sure  to  win.  And  in  fact  over  every  impedi- 
ment thrown  in  his  path  he  triumphed. 

A  State  Legislature  is  a  good  school  in  which  to  study 
diplomacy,  and  Dr.  Houghton  found  plenty  of  occasion  for 
the  study  of  this  new  art,  and  for  its  efficient  practice. 

Though  Dr.  Houghton  had  many  friends  in  the  Legislature 
of  the  newly  organized  State,  which  then  met  at  Detroit, 
there  were  many  also  who  could  not  or  would  not  realize  the 
importance  of  a  scientific  exploration  of  the  State;  nor  was 
this  at  all  strange.  Scientific  studies,  and  especially  geology, 
had  up  to  this  time  received  but  little  consideration  in 


28  MEMOIR  OF 

America.  Excepting  the  institute  at  Troy,  there  was  no 
school  of  science  in  the  country,  no  chair  of  science  in  any 
university  or  college.  Practically  in  the  western  country  it 
was  a  subject  so  new  and  unknown  as  to  be  received  with 
suspicion  and  indifference. 

It  became  the  custom  of  the  more  intelligent  members  to 
bring  to  Dr.  Houghton's  studio  the  less  friendly  and  intelli- 
gent ones,  who  were  there  so  instructed  in  the  subject  nearest 
to  the  Doctor's  heart  as  to  enable  them  to  form  independent 
judgments. 

Among  the  members  of  the  Legislature  of  1837  was  a 
worthy  farmer  from  Macomb  county,  a  man  of  commanding 
presence,  genial,  and  a  general  favorite,  but  totally  ignorant 
of  the  first  principles  of  science.  Naturally  he  looked  down 
upon  the  little  Doctor  with  some  contempt,  nor  would  he  be 
persuaded  by  his  best  friends  to  visit  the  Doctor  in  his  studio, 
examine  his  collection  and  listen  to  his  expositions.  He 
could  find  on  his  own  farm  quite  as  good  specimens  of  stones, 
sticks  and  dry  herbs,  and  he  poured  ridicule  over  the  whole 
matter.  At  last  he  was  induced  by  a  few  boon  companions  to 
accompany  them  to  Dr.  Houghton's  house  for  an  evening. 
They  were  met  by  the  Doctor — as  boon  a  comrade  as  the  best 
of  them — in  his  parlor,  and  all  sat  down  to  cards.  Dr. 
Houghton  entertained  them  with  stories  brim-full  of  jollity 
and  fun,  and  it  was  late  when  they  were  ready  to  leave.  Not 
a  word  had  been  uttered  on  the  subject  of  the  survey,  or  any 
matter  pertaining  to  science.  The  Macomb  member  was 
delighted.  He  swore  that  the  little  Doctor  was  a  right  good 
fellow,  and  had  more  in  him  than  many  a  man  of  twice  his 
size.  The  friendship  thus  begun  never  wavered.  The  mem- 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  29 

ber  from  Macomb  voted  for  the  appropriation,  specimens  and 
all,  and  he  remained  a  firm  friend  ever  afterwards. 

Will  not  even  the  most  exacting  find  excuse  for  such 
finesse  in  consideration  of  the  end  in  view  *  At  all  events  the 
story  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  versatility  of  the  hero  of  it, 
and  the  ease  with  which  he  won  the  hearts  of  all. 


30  MEMOIR  OF 


CHAPTEE  III. 


STATE  GEOLOGIST  —  CHARACTER  AND  BESULTS  OF  THE 
SURVEY  —  METHODS —  HARDSHIPS  —  INCIDENTS  —  PLAN 
FOR  CONNECTING  THE  LINEAR  AND  GEOLOGICAL  SUR- 
VEYS OF  THE  PUBLIC  DOMAIN. 


Dr.  Houghton  had  a  warm,  efficient  friend  and  coadjutor 
in  the  young  Governor,  Stevens  T.  Mason,  and  on  the  passing 
of  the  law  establishing  this  scientific  department  of  the  State, 
Houghton  was  immediately  appointed  geologist. 

After  a  rapid  reconnoissance  of  the  State  under  a  small 
appropriation  in  1837,  an  act  was  proposed  by  the  Legislature 
in  March,  1838,  contemplating  a  full  organization  of  the  geo- 
logical department. 

The  seasons  of  1838  and  '  39  were  spent  in  explorations  of 
the  lower  peninsula  and  the  portion  of  the  upper  peninsula 
bordering  on  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan.  The  reader  is 
referred  to  the  Appendix  for  a  summary  and  review  of  the 
annual  reports  of  the  Geological  department  from  its  first 
inception. 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  31 

In  a  brief  memoir  by  Mr.  Hubbard  published  in  the 
American  Journal  of  Science,  soon  after  the  death  of  Dr. 
Houghton,  the  scheme  matured  by  the  State  Geologist  is  thus 
alluded  to: 

"  The  plan  upon  which  this  survey  was  organized  reflected  great  credit 
upon  the  enlarged  scientific  views  and  enterprise  of  Dr.  Houghton,  and  may 
be  considered  as  a  model.  It  comprehended  four  departments,  namely, 
geology  and  mineralogy  proper,  zoology,  botany  and  topography,  each  having 
its  official  head  and  assistants,  and  all  united  under  the  general  direction  and 
surveilance  of  the  State  Geologist.  Thus,  while  all  were  expected  to  work  in 
concert,  by  a  division  of  labor  the  results  would  necessarily  be  more  extended 
and  accurate.  One  of  the  duties  connected  with  the  topographical  depart- 
ment may  be  considered  as  novel  to  a  geological  survey,  and  could  at  least  be 
but  ill  accomplished  in  any  of  the  older  States.  Like  all  the  States  north- 
west of  the  Ohio,  the  system  of  rectillinear  surveys  had  been  applied  to 
Michigan,  by  which  the  State  is  divided  into  towns  and  ranges  of  six  miles 
square,  which  again  are  subdivided  into  thirty-six  square  miles  or  sections. 
The  topographer  was  directed  to  furnish  the  geologist  and  his  two  assistants 
in  geology  with  skeleton  plats  of  these  townships,  copied  from  the  returns  of 
the  Deputy  United  States  Surveyors,  on  a  scale  of  two  inches  to  the  mile, 
these  serving  the  latter  as  a  basis  for  laying  down  with  more  than  ordinary 
accuracy  and  facility  as  well  the  geological  as  the  topographical  and  civil 
features  of  the  country.  These  being  returned  to  the  topographer,  were 
reduced  by  him  to  the  scale  adopted  for  a  series  of  State  and  county  maps, 
the  publication  of  which  was  projected  as  a  part  of  the  results  of  the  survey. 

The  condition  of  the  State  finances  permitted  the  issuing  of  a  few  only  of 
the  maps  thus  prepared,  rather  as  specimens,  but  they  sufficed  to  show  that 
for  comprehensiveness,  minuteness  and  fidelity  of  detail,  these  maps  of  the 
counties  of  Michigan  far  exceed  anything  of  the  kind  ever  attempted  in  this 
country." 

They  would  have  accomplished,  had  the  scheme,  for  which 
abundant  material  was  collected,  been  carried  out  in  the 
liberal  spirit  with  which  it  was  conceived,  and  with  far  more 
accuracy,  what  the  State  and  general  government  have  since 
attempted  by  triangulations,  at  a  vastly  enhanced  cost.  We 
shall  see  that  the  same  idea  entered  into  and  formed  a  part  of 
the  plans  for  connected  linear  and  geological  surveys  which 


32  MEMOIR  OF 

the  comprehensive  and  practical  mind  of  Dr.  Houghton  sub- 
sequently applied  to  the  linear  surveys  in  progress  in  the 
Lake  Superior  region. 

The  scheme  for  the  survey  of  Michigan  which  Dr.  Hough- 
ton  had  entertained,  and  which  he  now  proceeded  to  mature, 
showed  evidences  of  that  large  comprehensive  spirit  which, 
reaching  out  beyond  the  present  aspect  of  things,  grasps  the 
future  demands  of  science.  It  showed,  in  fact,  a  good  deal  of 
creative  organizing  genius,  for  which  the  Doctor  was  not 
undistinguished.  Unfortunately  the  financial  calamities  of 
the  country,  which  fell  on  the  western  States  with  unpar- 
alleled severity,  proved  fatal  to  a  portion  of  this  plan  and 
greatly  crippled  the  efficiency  of  the  Geological  Survey 
proper. 

Before  the  close  of  the  second  year  he  was  obliged  to 
abandon  the  departments  of  zoology  and  botany,  so  that  the 
State  lost  the  great  advantage  of  a  prosecution  of  these  kindred 
sciences,  hand  in  hand  with  its  geology.  This  was  to  be 
regretted,  because  in  the  virgin  state  of  the  country  there 
would  be  found  many  plants  and  animals  which  with  the  pro- 
gress of  settlement  would  become  either  wholly  extinct  or 
dispersed. 

His  report  for  this  second  year,  notwithstanding,  com- 
prised very  copious  and  valuable  reports  by  the  State  Zoolo- 
gist and  the  Botanist,  of  the  animals  and  plants  so  far  made 
known.  A  reference  to  these  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 

The  season  of  1840  was  passed  by  the  geological  corps 
in  an  exploration  of  the  southern  coast  of  Lake  Superior, 
and  the  general  results  were  reported  by  Dr.  Houghton  to 
the  Legislature  the  following  February.  In  regard  to  the 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  33 

mineral  wealth  of  that  region,  the  State  Geologist  saw  very 
clearly  its  future  importance,  but  he  was  extremely  cautious 
in  his  statements.  He  knew  how  easily  the  public  pulse 
might  be  excited  and  speculators  induced  to  rush  in  and 
appropriate  extensive  tracts  of  mineral  land.  But  the  time 
would  soon  come  when  these  evidences  would  be  too  plain  and 
patent  to  allow  him,  from  conscientious  motives,  or  any 
politic  scruples,  to  withhold  such  information  from  the 
public. 

His  reports  sent  in  to  the  Legislature,  brief  but  compre- 
hensive, offered  such  an  array  of  facts  bearing  on  the  mineral 
wealth  of  the  upper  peninsula,  so  philosophically  deduced, 
and  carrying  such  order  and  system  into  what  all  previous 
observers  has  regarded  as  unintelligible  confusion,  that  public 
attention  was  speedily  attracted  to  that  region,  and  thousands 
of  the  bold  or  inquisitive  residents  of  States  further  south 
and  east  were  soon  wending  their  way  to  the  Lake  Superior 
mineral  region. 

With  few  exceptions,  all  the  vast  region  touching  the 
great  lake  of  the  Northwest  was  an  uninhabited  wilderness; 
dense,  tangled  unbroken  forests.  These  exceptions  were  the 
hunting  and  fishing  communities,  half  Indian,  half  French, 
that  had  found  a  lodgment  under  the  cliffs  of  a  bleak  coast. 

The  novelty  of  the  geological  positions  taken  by  Dr. 
Houghton,  and  their  non-conformity  in  many  particulars  with 
the  state  of  facts  existing  in  other  well  known  mining  districts, 
created  a  profound  incredulity  in  the  minds  of  those  who  had 
received  their  teachings  in  other  schools  of  science.  In  truth, 
so  bold  and  unlocked  for  were  some  of  the  statements  made  by 

the  young  Geologist  of  Michigan,  that  he  was  at  this  time 
(3) 


34  MEMOIR  OF 

called  by  some  of  the  solons  of  the  east  "the  backwoods 
geologist/'  or  "the  boy  who  had  a  good  deal  yet  to  learn," 
and  in  these  phrases,  no  doubt,  there  was  implied  both 
incredulity  and  derision. 

Perhaps  even  the  accomplished  and  learned  editor  of 
"Silliman's  Journal  of  Science"  may  be  suspected  at  this 
time  of  a  want  of  that  catholic  spirit  of  liberality  that  should 
always  characterize  a  scientist. 

But  Dr.  Houghton  was  a  courageous  and  independent 
observer,  and  it  should  be  observed  here  that  the  lapse  of 
years  and  the  progress  of  discoveries  under  more  favorable 
circumstances  have  absolutely  redeemed  the  sagacious  sug- 
gestions, and  confirmed  the  almost  intuitive  accuracy  of  his 
observations.  Indeed,  his  conclusions,  apparently  founded 
on  a  limited  examination,  have  proven  singularly  prophetic. 
This  is  the  more  remarkable  from  the  limited  means  he  had  at 
command,  the  brevity  of  time  he  had  to  complete  the  explora- 
tion, the  vastness  of  the  areas  to  be  examined,  as  well  as  the 
extreme  difficulties  of  traversing  an  unbroken  wilderness. 
But  we  may  repeat  and  emphasize  the  fact  that  all  subsequent 
explorations  of  this  mineral  region,  so  far  from  discrediting  a 
single  fact  stated  or  any  position  taken  at  that  time  by  the 
State  Geologist,  have  confirmed,  with  singular  minuteness,  all 
the  theories  propounded  and  every  prediction  he  made.  Nor 
have  later  observations  been  able  to  add  much  that  did  not 
flow  mainly  from  Houghton' s  acute  and  cautious  examina- 
tions. 

His  fourth  and  last  report  of  the  geology  of  the  upper 
peninsula,  Prof.  Winchell  speaks  of  as  "a  masterly  descrip- 
tion of  the  mineral  veins  of  the  trap,  conglomerate  and  other 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  35 

rocks."  He  says:  "  Dr.  Houghton's  report,  published  in  1841, 
furnished  the  world  with  the  first  definite  information  relative 
to  the  occurrences  of  native  copper  in  place  on  Lake  Superior, 
and  the  mining  interest  now  rapidly  growing  up  in  that  region 
has  been  to  great  extent  created  by  the  attention  directed  to  it 
by  the  report  of  my  late  predecessor." 

This  report  of  Dr.  Hough  ton's,  with  others  of  special 
interest  to  the  public,  that  were  laid  before  the  legislature, 
will  be  found  in  a  subsequent  portion  of  this  volume.  But 
the  arduous  labors  which  Dr.  Houghton  imposed  upon  him- 
self in  developing  the  geology  and  mineral  wealth  of  Mich- 
igan, can  hardly  be  realized.  They  have  not  been  told.  He 
was  no  egotist,  and  his  assistants,  taking  example  from  their 
leader,  thought  only  of  duty  and  success.  Now  and  then  we 
get  slight  intimations  of  their  labors  through  reports  and  let- 
ters. By  day  they  were  often  wading  unknown  streams, 
threading  a  trackless  forest,  making  their  observations,  secur- 
ing specimens  of  rocks,  fossils  or  minerals.  The  nights  often 
made  sleepless  by  swarms  of  mosquitoes,  drenching  storms 
and  the  howling  of  wild  beasts.  They  would  eke  out  the 
scanty  provisions  they  could  carry  by  such  game  as  they  might, 
by  chance  meet. 

Exposed  thus  to  cold  and  wet,  to  storm  and  perils  of  many 
kinds,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Dr.  Houghton' s  health  should 
have  suffered  severely.  He  mentions  this  in  one  of  his 
reports,  a  rare  instance  of  any  allusion  made  by  him  to  the 
hardships  he  encountered.  To  the  legislature  he  says : 

Feb.,  1841. 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  to  me  that  the  sufferings  and  hardships  to  which 
I  have  been  exposed  in  conducting  the  field  work  over  this  wilderness  portions 
of  our  State,  have  so  far  impaired  my  health,  as  to  render  it  impossible  for  me 


36  MEMOIR  OF 

to  enter  into  so  minute  details  as  had  been  anticipated.  I  regret  this  the  more 
since  it  leaves  many  wide  spaces  in  portions  of  the  present  report  which  are 
of  much  consequence  to  a  proper  understanding  of  the  whole.  But  since  the 
annual  reports  are  intended  to  refer  rather  to  the  progress  of  the  work,  than 
to  its  results,  and  since  the  whole  will  be  embraced  in  a  more  perfect  form 
hereafter,  this  defect  is  of  less  importance  than  it  otherwise  would  be." 

To  realize  these  hardships  one  must  have  the  experience  of 
living  exiled  for  two  or  three  months  in  the  midst  of  unknown 
forests,  and  being  obliged  to  strip  the  bark  from  trees  and 
creep  under  their  shelter  to  escape  the  fierce  storms  by  night, 
satisfied  with  a  few  hours  of  rest,  but  always  in  good  cheer. 
Houghton  says  in  one  of  his  letters,  i  i  the  darkest  moments 
are  rendered  comparatively  light  and  cheerful  from  the  grand 
scenes  that  surround  us,  and  that  sense  of  duty  in  our  pur- 
suits which  gives  nerve  and  courage  to  meet  every  peril. " 

It  was  in  the  season  of  1840  that  an  incident  happened, 
related  to  the  author  by  one  of  the  men  present,  which  vividly 
illustrates  the  dangers  he  was  destined  to  encounter.  It  is 
mentioned  here,  because  at  the  time  Dr.  Houghton  lost  his 
life  there  were  persons  ready  to  censure  him  for  needless 
exposure;  they  felt  perhaps  that  he  had  been  careless  of  a  life 
so  valuable  to  science,  and  so  important  to  his  own  fame;  but 
this  idea  would  be  absurdly  unjust.  Life  to  Dr.  Houghton 
must  have  been  as  precious  as  to  anyone.  It  is  true  he  was 
without  fear  in  danger,  and  would  never  spare  himself  to 
accomplish  a  great  purpose.  In  the  course  of  his  explorations 
amid  the  wilderness,  or  on  the  unfrequented  waters  of  the 
upper  lakes,  he  had  often  encountered  perils  of  a  frightful 
nature.  He  had  faced  these  and  overcome  them.  He  was 
indeed  fearless  to  heroism  in  danger.  But  he  was  never  reck- 
less at  any  time, — rather  was  he  deliberate  and  cautious  by 
nature. 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  37 

On  this  occasion  he  was  making  his  way  along  the  rock- 
bound  coast  of  Lake  Superior.  He  was  in  his  " Mackinaw77 
row- and  sail  boat,  the  same  that  was  subsequently  dashed  to 
pieces  in  a  storm.  Mght  was  approaching,  black  clouds  sud- 
denly overcast  the  heavens,  and  the  darkness  of  midnight 
seemed  in  a  few  moments  to  overshadow  them.  He  was 
approaching  the  celebrated  Pictured  Bocks,  well  out  to  sea. 
But  he  had  some  fourteen  miles  still  to  reach  his  destination. 
His  men,  obedient  to  his  will,  tried  hard  to  keep  off  from  the 
shore,  but  the  wind  blew  a  gale.  Thunder  and  flashes  of 
lightning  added  their  horrors  to  the  scene.  With  all  their 
effort  to  keep  out  to  sea,  the  storm  was  taking  them  directly 
on  the  rocks,  against  which  the  fierce  waves  were  heard  to 
dash.  Houghton  saw  there  was  hardly  a  chance  to  escape, 
for  their  frail  bark  was  speedily  sweeping  them  to  inevitable 
destruction.  He  knew  that  at  wide  intervals  along  these 
perpendicular  ledges  there  were  narrow  breaks  or  rifts  cut 
away  by  rivulets.  Such  a  break  might  possibly,  if  reached  in 
time,  admit  of  shelter ;  these  were  in  truth  but  narrow 
crevices  as  it  were,  sloping  rapidly  up,  and  in  a  storm  hardly 
to  be  seen.  But  this  was  their  only  hope.  While  the  wind 
whistled  and  moaned,  and  the  waves  broke  in  thunder,  leaping 
high  up  the  cliff,  the  geologist  stood  firm  at  the  helm, 
guiding  the  tossing  boat  to  avoid  the  threatened  wave  that 
might  swamp  them,  his  eagle  eye  taking  in  the  long  range  of 
sandstone  cliffs,  watching  with  intense  eagerness,  in  the  midst 
of  this  terrific  tempest  to  discover,  if  possible,  one  of  those 
slight  breaks  in  the  rocky  walls  that  threatened  any  moment 
to  receive  them,  to  crush  and  grind  them  to  pieces.  The  boat 
now  almost  touching  the  dreaded  rocks,  he  might  only  dis- 


38  MEMOIR  OF 

cover  a  possible  haven  of  safety  by  the  lurid  flashes  of 
lightning.  Suddenly  amid  breathless  silence  and  the  pallid 
faces  of  those  faithful  assistants,  save  the  roar  of  the  elements, 
that  imperfect  narrow  opening  appeared,  and  the  frail  bark 
with  its  precious  freight  was  whirled  in  and  shot  up  the  slope, 
safe  on  the  narrow  gravelled  beach;  and  here  these  storm- 
beaten  toilers  of  the  sea  remained  until  daylight. 

It  will  be  seen  that  Dr.  Houghton  in  the  prosecution  of  his 
favorite  studies,  and  to  achieve  his  great  mission,  was  no  mere 
theoretic,  parlor  geologist.  He  loved  to  study  the  operations 
of  nature  in  the  midst  of  her  wildest  scenes.  He  would  not 
trust  to  the  speculations  of  others,  however  plausible.  His 
mind  could  only  be  satisfied  when  he  had  put  everything  into 
the  crucible  of  observation  and  experiment,  and  tested  each 
for  himself.  Other  men  have  been  smitten  with  this  im- 
passioned love  of  science,  this  profound  desire  for  new 
discoveries,  but  they  are  not  so  numerous  that  we  can  afford  to 
forget  them. 

Dr.  Houghton  had  early  attached  to  him  several  of  the 
young  men  of  Detroit,  who  became  afterwards  closely  associ- 
ated with  him  in  his  scientific  survey  of  the  State;  others  were 
drawn  to  him  from  sympathy,  some  were  connected  with  him 
in  business,  while  others  again  pursued  the  study  of  the 
natural  sciences  under  his  instructions.  These  associates 
constituted  a  kind  of  club,  called  sometimes  "the  Houghton 
boys."  His  influence  on  the  deportment  and  habits,  on  the 
intellectual  discipline  of  these  associates  was  admirable  and 
lasting.  How  many  names  of  high,  hopeful  and  ardent  young 
friends  and  co-laborers  come  up  to  me  as  I  write  this. 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  39 

As  he  had  been  the  leader  when  but  a  child  among  his  little 
associates,  so  the  same  trait  was  conspicuous  now  that  he  had 
to  deal  with  men.  And  why  should  he  fear  danger  ?  Among 
these  wild  and  stormy  scenes  he  was  in  his  chosen  element. 
He  never  hesitated  to  face  the  snow  storm,  or  the  sleet  of  hail 5 
if  capsized  in  an  open  boat,  as  often  happened,  he  and  his 
men  could  swim  or  wade  ashore.  In  truth  he  was  well  fitted 
for  these  encounters.  He  brought  to  bear  his  experience,  a 
deep  steady  enthusiasm,  indomitable  courage,  and  heroic  self- 
sacrifice.  He  had  the  entire  confidence  of  his  boatmen  and 
associates,  who  were  bound  to  him  like  children  to  a  parent; 
and  they  were  inspired  by  a  common  danger,  they  were 
enthralled  by  the  example  of  purpose,  decision  and  energy, 
by  confiding  counsel  and,  in  fine,  by  the  unfailing  resources  of 
genius. 

The  report  of  1841  was  the  last  one  made  by  the  State 
Geologist  to  the  legislature;  the  poverty  of  resources  of  the 
young  State  having  compelled  a  suspension  of  the  survey,  but 
Dr.  Houghton  had  other  resources  within  himself. 

The  linear  survey  of  the  public  domain  had  been  early 
projected  by  the  United  States  government;  and  these  surveys 
had  been  in  progress  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  as  in  other 
portions  of  the  nation's  property  not  yet  deeded  to  settlers. 
Dr.  Houghton  had  found  from  time  to  time  great  advantage 
in  hi»  explorations  by  enlisting  the  intelligent  minds  of  the 
public  surveyors  in  the  cause  of  geology  and  the  related 
sciences.  In  fact  the  doctor  saw  in  this  union  a  rare  chance 
to  carry  forward  his  own  scientific  examinations  on  a  large 
and  permanent  scale.  It  was  indeed  at  that  moment  an  enter- 
prise opened  up  to  him,  novel  in  its  character,  quite  original, 


40  MEMOIR  OF 

and  full  of  promise  in  the  promotion  of  his  special  studies. 
This  idea  was  nothing  less  than  to  achieve  a  thorough  geolo- 
gical, mineralogical,  topographical  and  magnetic  survey  of 
the  new  wild  lands  of  the  United  States,  contemporaneously 
and  in  connection  with  the  government  survey. 

As  the  law  making  provision  for  the  State  geological  sur- 
vey proper  would  very  soon  expire,  leaving  still  a  large  terri- 
tory in  the  upper  peninsula  unexplored,  Dr.  Houghton  set 
about  the  perfecting  of  this  double  and  more  complete  survey 
of  the  public  domain.  At  one  of  the  annual  meetings  of  the 
American  Geologists,  held  at  Albany,  New  York,  Dr.  Houghton 
explained  his  views  in  regard  to  the  new  methods  by  which 
he  proposed  to  carry  on  the  public  survey  of  the  national 
domain.  This  idea  was  well  received  by  the  members  of  the 
association,  and  as  chairman  of  the  committee  appointed, 
Houghton  proceeded  to  Washington.  This  was  in  1844,  dur- 
ing the  session  of  the  45th  congress,  that  the  doctor  laid  his 
scheme  before  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  It  was  carefully 
considered,  and  its  objects  were  approved.  Its  feasibility, 
however,  was  but  cautiously  admitted.  To  be  sure  its  great 
value  to  these  natural  sciences  was  seen  and  acknowledged. 
But  there  were  difficulties  that  seemed  to  block  the  way — 
some  indifference  and  some  "red  tape,'7  perhaps.  Doubts 
were  expressed  if  deputy  surveyors  could  be  found  sufficiently 
versed  in  these  sciences  to  undertake  such  a  work  with  any 
reliable  prospect  of  success.  In  this  dilemma,  Dr.  Houghton 
did  not  hesitate;  he  offered  at  once  to  take  the  contract  him- 
self, a  contract  to  complete  the  survey  of  the  upper  peninsula, 
making  upwards  of  four  thousand  square  miles,  at  a  price  but 
little  in  excess  of  the  sum  that  would  be  paid  for  the  single 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  41 

survey — such  as  it  had  been  under  the  established  system. 
This  prompt  action  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Houghton  showed  the 
authorities  his  entire  confidence  in  the  plan  he  had  devised, 
and  inspired  confidence  on  the  part  of  the  government  to 
adopt  it.  Dr.  Houghton  had  already  submitted  this  scheme 
of  survey  to  the  Hon.  Lucius  Lyon,  U.  S.  Surveyor  General, 
who  heartily  approved  it.  It  was  also  endorsed  by  a  joint 
committee  of  the  State  Legislature  of  Michigan.  The  Doctor 
had  a  corps  of  surveyors  early  in  the  field,  and  his  plan  was 
fully  tested  before  his  untimely  death.  Its  success  was  even 
beyond  his  expectations,  and  prominent  scientists,  we  under- 
stand, have  expressed  regret  that  this  new  and  enlarged 
mode  of  survey  of  the  public  lands  has  not  been  con- 
tinued. 

The  Hon.  Lucius  Lyon,  Senator  in  Congress,  and  afterwards 
Surveyor  General,  says,  in  his  reports  to  the  Commissioner  of 
the  General  Land  Office,  in  1845,  speaking  of  this  survey, 
"that  enough  has  been  done  to  show  clearly  the  great  value 
' l  of  such  accurate  geological  and  topographical  surveys  as  the 
"one  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  to  demonstrate  the  practi- 
"bility  of  carrying  them  on  in  connection  with  the  leading 
"surveys  of  the  public  realms,  without  increasing  the  ex- 
penditures of  the  government  for  surveying  more  than  one- 
"half  a  cent  per  acre  over  a  rough  and  thickly  wooded 
"country  like  that  on  Lake  Superior.  And  further,  the 
"additional  information  which  such  a  survey  would  give  if 
"finally  adopted,  would  certainly  be  worth  to  the  purchaser 
"  of  the  public  land  far  more  than  the  small  extra  cost.  In  a 
"mining  region  its  value  and  importance  would  be  greatly 
"  increased.  It  would  enable  the  government  to  know  at  once 


42  MEMOIR  OF 

"  the  exact  location  and  probable  value  of  every  section  and 
"quarter  section  of  the  mineral  lands." 

The  reasons  for  this  abandonment  have  not  been  given. 
It  will  always  require  some  personal  enthusiasm  and  indepen- 
dence to  carry  forward  schemes  of  improvement  in  which  the 
public  is  not  immediately  aggrandized  or  benefited.  In  this 
more  thorough  survey  of  the  national  domain,  the  deputy 
surveyors  had  been  instructed  to  make  notes  of  soils,  forest 
growth,  running  streams,  coal,  and  minerals  of  all  kinds, 
geological  appearances,  etc.,  and  to  make  collections  of  rock 
specimens  and  fossils;  all  these  would  be  received  at  the 
General  Land  Office  at  Washington.  Indeed,  Houghton's 
scheme  contemplated  a  scientific  bureau  at  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment, where  would  be  gathered  not  only  all  the  information 
embodied  in  the  field  notes,  such  as  must  speedily  accumulate 
in  this  enlarged  system  of  organized  labor  and  observation, 
extending  from  the  great  lakes  to  the  Pacific,  but,  in  addition, 
there  should  be  found  at  this  bureau  duplicate  specimens  of 
everything  pertaining  to  the  individual  States,  as  these  should 
advance  in  their  more  detailed  and  scientific  explorations. 

Such  were  some  of  the  ambitious  plans  which  the  young 
savant  of  Michigan  had  formed — which,  indeed,  he  matured 
and  tested  with  every  promise  of  success.  It  was  his  ambition 
and  his  hope  to  carry  this  large  enterprise  to  a  complete 
success. 

But  the  sudden  and  calamitous  death  of  Dr.  Houghton 
prevented  even  the  final  report  of  the  geology  of  the  State,  as 
well  as  the  more  complete  work,  including  the  several  depart- 
ments originally  comprised  in  the  survey.  But  it  is  due  to 
his  memory  to  state  here  that  the  amount  of  materials  in  the 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  43 

form  of  maps,  notes,  charts,  drawings,  specimens  of  the  geology, 
botany,  mineralogy  and  zoology,  which  now  enrich  the  cabinet 
at  Ann  Arbor,  perhaps  surpass  those  of  any  other  State  in  the 
Union  excepting  New  York.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
to  the  students  in  these  various  departments,  as  well  as  to  the 
more  advanced  scientists,  their  value  is  not  easily  over- 
estimated. It  is  true  that  since  his  death  large  and  important 
additions  have  been  made  to  the  State  Cabinet  by  purchase. 
His  widow  has  bestowed  on  the  university  an  extensive  and 
most  precious  Herbarium,  Dr.  Houghton's  private  collection, 
gathered  and  preserved  through  many  years.  Soon  after 
Houghton's  appointment  as  geologist  of  the  State,  the  Eegents 
of  the  University  appointed  him  Professor  of  Geology  and 
kindred  sciences  in  that  institution.  He  held  this  chair  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  The  university,  which  has  expanded  to 
such  dimensions  in  the  last  forty  years,  was  at  that  time  in  its 
infancy,  and  needed,  as  it  received,  the  fostering  care  of 
enlightened  citizens,  who  were  often  obliged  to  give  time  and 
labor  with  slight  compensation. 

The  disinterested  sacrifices  of  men  of  letters  and  science 
during  the  probationary  struggles  of  liberal  institutions  are 
not  always  remembered  after  their  maturity  and  success  has 
been  assured.  Houghton's  duties  in  the  meanwhile  in  the 
field  and  wilderness  had  been  too  numerous  and  too  pressing 
to  admit  of  a  continuous  attention  to  the  special  work  of  a 
Professor  at  Ann  Arbor.  But  he  found  time  to  give  lectures 
now  and  then,  and  his  counsel  was  constantly  sought  in  the 
administration  of  its  affairs  at  that  time.  His  influence, 
indeed,  was  felt  as  a  magnetic  vital  power  in  the  embryonic 
struggles,  as  in  the  more  mature  growth  of  this  favorite 
institution  of  Michigan. 


44  MEMOIR  OF 


CHAPTEE  IV. 


HONORS  —  SOCIETY  —  HOME  AND  FAMILY  —  THE  ANNUAL 
EEPORTS — STORM  ON  LAKE  SUPERIOR — SCIENCE  AND 
DUTY — DEATH. 


It  was  an  honor  for  a  young  man  not  yet  thirty  years  old 
to  be  offered  the  Presidency  of  the  State  University,  but  his 
reply  is  equally  honorable  to  him,  that  he  "could  be  of  more 
service,  perhaps,  outside,  for  the  present." 

During  his  brief  career  up  to  1844  he  had  been  the 
recipient  of  honors  at  home  and  abroad,  unsought  and  rare  for 
one  so  young.  And  he  had  organized  and  conducted  a 
geological  survey  of  the  State  with  singular  energy  and 
success. 

Let  us  now  go  back  a  few  years.  Before  he  was  nineteen 
years  old  he  had  been  appointed  assistant  professor  at  the 
Scientific  School  at  Troy,  K  Y.  Yielding  to  the  invitation  at 
Detroit,  he  had  hardly  opened  his  office  in  the  spring  of 
1830,  when  he  was  appointed  surgeon  and  botanist  to  the 
expedition  for  the  discovery  of  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi, 
organized  by  Henry  E.  Schoolcrafb.  As  President  of  the 
Young  Men's  Society,  he  succeeded  Franklin  Sawyer,  who  was 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  45 

afterwards  so  favorably  known  as  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction.  Within  a  few  years,  (1842,)  he  had  been  elected 
Mayor  of  Detroit  for  two  years  in  succession.  He  was  made 
an  honorary  member  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  Philadelphia; 
a  member  of  the  College  of  Natural  History,  Vermont ;  a 
member  of  the  Hartford  Natural  History  Society,  Connecticut; 
a  member  of  the  Literary  and  Historical  Society  of  Quebec;  a 
member  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History.  He  was 
appointed  State  Geologist  of  Michigan  in  1837;  a  member  of 
the  Geological  and  Historical  Society,  Newark  Seminary,  State 
of  Ohio;  an  honorary  member  of  the  Antiquarian  Society, 
Copenhagen,  Denmark;  a  member  of  the  National  Institute  of 
Washington ;  and  Professor  of  Geology,  Mineralogy  and 
Chemistry  in  the  University  of  Michigan. 

Eegarding  a  man  so  young,  the  recipient  of  so  many  unso- 
licited honors,  and  who  has  left  so  deep  and  lasting  an  impres- 
sion upon  the  popular  thought  and  sympathy,  it  is  natural 
and  proper  that  we  should  wish  to  form  some  definite  idea  of 
his  personal  appearance. 

Dr.  Houghton's  height  was  about  five  feet  five  inches,  a 
little  less,  perhaps.  His  father,  Judge  Houghton,  of  Fredonia, 
New  York,  was  small  in  person,  about  the  size  of  the  Hon. 
Alvah  Walker,  of  St.  Johns,  of  this  State.  All  the  members 
of  his  family  were  of  the  medium  size.  His  hands  and  feet 
were  small  and  delicately  formed;  his  head  was  large,  well 
developed  and  well  balanced;  his  nose  was  prominent  like  his 
father's,  a  little  Roman  in  aspect,  and  of  generous  proportions; 
his  eyes  were  blue,  verging  towards  hazel;  they  were  well  shel- 
tered underneath  light  but  rather  massive  brows,  and  were 
bright  and  merry  at  times,  and  expressed  his  feelings  without 


46  MEMOIR  OF 

disguise.  His  ears  had  been  scarred  by  that  powder  explo- 
sion, and  his  nostrils  and  mouth  had  retained  some  marks  of 
that  disaster.  In  early  boyhood,  he  had  suffered  long  and 
severely  from  a  hip  disease,  and  this  had  left  one  leg  a  little 
short,  not  enough  to  give  him  a  limp,  but  it  had  produced  a 
slight  inclination  to  one  side,  with  a  swing  or  roll  of  the  body 
as  he  walked;  the  head  somewhat  inclined.  He  was  not  aware 
of  this  himself;  these  blemishes  were  instinctively  disguised, 
and  so  completely  that  not  even  his  intimate  friends  would  be 
likely  to' notice  them. 

His  temperament  was  warm  and  nervous;  his  movements 
were  quick  and  earnest.  His  voice  rang  out  with  the  melody 
of  unaffected  enjoyment,  or  the  gayety  of  social  and  confiding 
intimacy.  But  he  had  command  of  all  his  faculties;  he  could 
in  a  moment  control  his  language  and  his  feelings.  His  sensi- 
bilities were  feminine  in  delicacy;  a  tale  of  suffering  would 
suffuse  his  eyes  with  tears,  an  appeal  to  his  kindness  or  to  his 
purse  brought  a  quick  response. 

Like  most  men  of  ability  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  science 
or  letters  in  the  new  States  of  the  west,  Dr.  Houghton  saw  the 
importance  of  making  friends  of  the  political  leaders  of  par- 
ties, and  to  associate  in  their  minds  the  cause  of  good  govern- 
ment and  wholesome  laws  with  the  progress  of  scientific  dis- 
coveries. He  had,  indeed,  the  faculty  of  inspiring  others  with 
a  portion  of  his  enthusiasm,  and  to  awaken  a  profound  respect 
for  his  pursuits.  He  was  young,  ardent,  and  generous  to  a 
fault.  His  intercourse  with  all  who  had  claims  on  him  was 
the  ideal  of  frankness  and  cordiality.  Was  it  strange,  then, 
that  he  should  win  all  ?  But  while  he  maintained  the  dignity 
of  science  as  a  pursuit  in  itself  worthy  of  all  devotion  and 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  47 

every  sacrifice,  he  did  not  disdain  to  point  out  and  insist  on 
the  economical  features  of  a  liberal  cultivation  of  the  natural 
sciences.  It  may  be  stated  with  entire  truth,  that  all  the 
leading  men  of  the  State  were  his  friends,  most  of  these  warm, 
efficient,  personal  friends.  They  saw  in  their  midst  a  young 
man  of  singular  activity,  full  of  knowledge,  ready  to  impart 
it,  and  one  so  earnest,  impetuous  and  generous,  that  they 
could  not  help  being  drawn  to  him  by  a  strong  sympathy. 
This  admiration,  this  confidence,  came  in  part,  too,  from  his 
liberal  conduct  towards  the  young  men  engaged  in  kindred 
pursuits,  by  the  high  tone  and  balance  of  his  character,  by 
the  fidelity  of  his  attachments ;  in  fine,  by  the  transparent 
probity  of  his  mind. 

But  Dr.  Houghton  would  not  confine  himself  exclusively 
to  the  study  of  science;  far  from  this.  He  was  a  man — young 
as  he  was — of  disciplined  habits  of  business.  Had  he  lived, 
his  fortune  was  assured.  He  felt  every  pulsation  of  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city  and  State.  His  credit  was 
excellent,  his  word  was  good  as  a  bond.  No  one  had  better 
judgment  of  the  value  of  real  estate  in  a  new  commonwealth, 
and  his  investments  were  good.  He  understood  the  tactics  of 
political  parties,  and  would  not  hesitate  to  bend  them  to  the 
cause  of  the  sciences  he  loved.  He  was  himself  a  fair, 
temperate  thinker  and  speaker  on  all  the  great  questions  of 
national  and  municipal  significance — most  catholic  and  liberal 
towards  all  who  differed  with  him,  and  tolerant  of  opinions 
and  creeds  not  his  own.  But  no  one  knew  better  than  Dr. 
Houghton  that  there  are  times  when  a  man  can  have  but  one 
side,  andjnust  stand  by  the  integrity  of  his  principles  and  of 
his  faith. 


48  MEMOIR  OF 

As  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Detroit,  we  are  informed  that  he 
often  took  very  decided  ground,  quite  above  and  outside  of 
party  politics.  Mr.  Silas  Farmer,  of  Detroit,  mentions  a  scene 
he  witnessed  at  a  meeting  of  the  common  council.  In  some 
discussion  the  members  were  excited  and  loud  in  their  talk, 
and  with  evidence  of  some  violence.  The  doctor  bore  this  for 
a  time,  but  after  a  little  rebuked  them  and  tried  to  bring  them 
to  order.  But  after  repeated  efforts  in  vain  to  command 
silence,  he  arose  from  his  chair,  told  them  that  as  Mayor 
and  their  presiding  officer  unless  they  ceased  their  wrangling 
and  came  to  order  at  once  he  would  vacate  the  chair  and 
decline  to  preside  over  them.  This  was  sufficient;  order  was 
instantly  restored.  It  takes  a  man  of  nerve  and  independence 
to  do  this.  But  it  was  in  this  way  that  Houghton  won  the 
esteem  of  all  parties  and  all  classes  of  men.  They  respected 
his  energetic  business  habits,  and  his  impartial  administration 
of  the  municipal  government  of  the  city. 

For  several  years  before  his  death,  Dr.  Houghton,  beyond 
doubt,  was  the  most  prominent  and  most  popular  man  in  the 
State.  Everywhere  his  ability  and  energy  were  acknowledged. 
No  name  throughout  the  distant  and  rural  districts  was  so 
often  uttered.  His  bold  daring,  his  generous  acts,  his  good 
humor,  his  racy  stories,  were  repeated  everywhere.  There 
were  certain  peculiar  qualities  in  this  widespread  popularity 
that  can  hardly  be  denned  or  appreciated.  Every  man  seemed 
to  feel  a  pride  in  the  growing  celebrity  of  Houghton.  His 
long  practice  as  physician  had  rendered  his  person  familiar 
and  dear  to  all.  His  gentle  and  sweet  nature  was  better  than 
medicine;  his]skill  in  his  profession  was  not  surpassed.  After 
the  necessity  of  withdrawing  from  practice,  many  families 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  49 

refused  to  give  him  up.  All  classes,  and  especially  the  poor, 
looked  upon  him  as  a  personal  friend.  His  stories  were 
always  fresh.  His  small,  active  figure,  his  almost  boyish 
manners,  the  utter  absence  of  all-put-on  dignity,  were 
characteristic.  But  notwithstanding  this  unstudied  and  im- 
pulsive manner,  it  must  be  said  that  no  man  would  ever  think 
of  treating  him  with  undue  familiarity.  His  intimacies  were 
well  chosen,  and  he  was  scrupulous  in  his  respect  shown 
towards  others.  It  was  from  this  sort  of  hearty  cordiality, 
and  from  a  nature  that  was  not  afraid  to  be  open  and  frank, 
came  those  familiar  epithets,  "the  little  Doctor,"  " our  Dr. 
Houghton,"  "the  boy  geologist  of  Michigan;"  these  were 
common  throughout  the  State.  His  name  had  become  a 
household  word.  The  young  and  the  old  everywhere  were 
eager  to  serve  him.  No  doubt  Dr.  Houghton  was  conscious  of 
this  general  homage,  but  he  never  sought  and  most  certainly 
never  encouraged  it. 

How  much  importance  he  attached  to  a  respectful 
demeanor  in  his  intercourse  with  people,  the  following 
incident  may  illustrate.  Traveling  once  with  a  younger  friend, 
they  had  occasion  to  inquire  their  road,  when  his  companion 
called  to  a  lad  whom  they  had  met,  addressing  him  as  "boy." 
When  they  had  passed  on  the  doctor  mildly  corrected  him  by 
saying,  "  Always  address  such  a  person  as  ' young  man.7  It 
appeals  to  his  self  respect." 

At  one  time  he  was  traversing  the  woods  some  hundreds  of 
miles  northwest  of  Detroit,  when  he  came  to  a  farm  house. 
He  enquired  about  the  rocks,  the  sources  of  streams,  coal,  iron 
ore,  and  the  kind  of  trees  in  that  neighborhood.  The  farmer 
was  somewhat  annoyed  by  his  curiosity — a  stranger  in  a  rough 

(4) 


50  MEMOIR  OF 

torn  dress  and  snowing  such  ignorance  was  offensive,  so  he  cut 
him  short  by  telling  him  * e  he  had  better  go  and  see  old  Dr. 
Houghton,  of  Detroit;  he  knew  all  about  such  things  and  had 
more  time  to  spare  than  he  had!" 

As  a  specimen  of  humor,  we  recall  his  visit  to  the  studio, 
then  on  Jefferson  avenue,  Detroit,  near  his  house,  to  announce 
that  he  had  just  come  into  possession  of  ten  thousand  dollars! 
This  would  not  surprise  anyone  in  those  bright  days  of  specu- 
lation in  corner  lots.  Some  of  his  young  friends  present  were 
but  too  happy  to  congratulate  the  Doctor  on  his  good  fortune. 
Nor  were  they  less  so  when  they  discovered  it  to  be,  not  in  a 
land  sale,  but  in  the  birth  of  a  daughter.  This  precious  gift 
of  fortune  was  Hattie  Houghton,  now  the  wife  of  the  Hon. 
Morgan,  of  Coldwater,  Michigan,  the  beautiful  mother  of 
sons  and  daughters. 

With  such  elements  of  strength  and  popularity,  it  should 
not  be  surprising  to  learn  that  enthusiastic  and  eager  friends 
were  only  too  ready  to  bring  his  name  forward  as  candidate 
for  the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of  the  people  of  Michigan. 
They  knew  how  faithful  he  had  been  to  public  trusts,  that  he 
had  ripe  judgment,  and  could  govern  men.  It  was  near  the 
approach  of  a  political  convention  of  1844  that  would  select 
a  candidate  for  governor.  At  this  time  the  Geologist,  with 
his  assistants,  were  engaged  with  their  work  in  the  woods  in 
the  northern  parts  of  the  lower  peninsula;  they  were  exploring 
the  wilderness  by  day,  and  camping  by  night  under  strips  of 
bark  torn  from  the  trees  for  shelter.  He  would  be  clothed  in 
a  forest  suit  less  fitted  perhaps  for  the  governor  of  the  state 
than  for  an  out  door  geologist;  and  so  disguised  and  rough- 
ened would  Dr.  Houghton  appear — with  unshaved  beard, 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  51 

iron -stained  boots,  torn  and  dilapidated  clothes,  that  had  his 
fellow  citizens  caught  a  glimpse  of  him  at  that  moment  they 
might  have  hooted  him  from  their  doors.  But  while  thus 
engaged  and  thus  adorned,  and  distant  from  his  constituents, 
he  ran  the  narrowest  chance  of  being  made  candidate  for 
governor  of  Michigan,  as  we  learn,  almost  by  acclamation. 
But  in  his. absence,  some  judicious  friends  interfered  and  very 
firmly  resisted  this  unsought,  and,  at  that  time,  undesirable 
honor.  They  insisted  that  the  geological  survey  to  which  he 
had  pledged  himself  should  take  precedence  of  all  other 
claims.  And  this,  no  doubt,  would  be  in  accordance  with  the 
deliberate  views  of  the  Geologist  himself.  Political  honors 
could  wait. 

It  may  be  remembered  that  when  Dr.  Houghton  had  been 
elected  mayor  of  Detroit  he  was  far  in  the  woods  pursuing  his 
scientific  investigations,  and  he  knew  nothing  of  his  being  a 
candidate  till  his  return  to  the  city.  See  his  letter  in 
Appendix. 

The  Eeports  on  the  Geology  of  Michigan,  commencing  in 
1838,  were  sent  to  the  Legislature  from  session  to  session, 
through  a  period  of  four  or  five  years.  These  reports,  with 
one  exception,  are  brief,  but  they  are  drawn  up  with  care; 
they  are  full  of  valuable  information,  evidences  of  labor  and 
thought,  often  betraying  an  acute  forethought  touching  certain 
geological  phenomena,  that  will  not  be  overlooked  by  the 
reader.  A  phrase  will  indicate  a  principle;  a  few  words  will 
often  comprise  the  result  of  many  days  of  patient  and  perilous 
examinations.  But  they  were  always  clear,  and  expressed 
with  singular  felicity.  These  reports  were  not  intended  to 
present  a  full  exhibit  of  his  labors  in  the  field  through  the 


52  MEMOIR  OF 

preceding  year;  far  from  this.  They  were  made  brief  as 
possible,  that  the  members  of  the  Legislature  should  have  a 
general  idea  of  the  progress  of  the  work. 

But  a  more  complete  account  of  the  whole  geological 
system  of  the  state  would  be  reserved  for  the  indoor  work, 
where  he  could  command  the  time  to  arrange  his  materials 
for  the  final  report.  Such  a  work  was  not  only  in  contempla- 
tion, but  had  already  made  great  progress.  See  the  remark- 
able unfinished  volume  in  manuscript  at  Ann  Arbor. 

This  large  folio  volume  is  very  fully  and  beautifully  illus- 
trated by  outline  maps  of  the  coast  touching  Lake  Huron,  the 
Straits  of  Mackinac,  Lake  Michigan  and  islands,  showing  the 
outcropping  of  rocks,  forest  growth,  soil,  mountain  ranges, 
sand-dunes,  head-lands,  gulfs  and  bays.  Besides  these,  and 
the  collection  of  rocks  and  minerals,  varied  specimens  of 
soils,  etc. ,  etc. ,  deposited  in  the  University,  are  many  draw- 
ings, beautifully  executed  on  wood  by  the  State  Topographer, 
of  fossils,  geological  sections,  views,  etc.,  designed  for  the 
final  volumes. 

Such  is  the  work  that  was  being  prepared  for  the  citizens 
of  Michigan  and  for  the  scientific  world.  Though  incomplete 
it  is  still  a  monument  of  labor,  design  and  method.  It  may 
be  observed  that  this  manuscript  volume  has  been  open  and 
free  for  the  inspection  and  study  of  all  students  in  natural 
science,  either  in  Michigan  or  in  other  states.  No  man  ever 
had  more  faithful  or  more  disinterested  aid  than  Dr.  Houghton. 

It  may  be  remembered  that  these  young  men,  his  assist- 
ants, who  had  been  his  faithful  co-workers  had  not  been 
trained  in  any  school  or  branch  of  science;  and  for  this  reason 
the  'care  and  exactness  by  which  the  reports  of  Mr.  Bela 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  53 

Hubbard  and  Mr.  C.  C.  Douglass  and  others  have  been  drawn 
up,  is  the  more  remarkable.  It  is  another  striking  instance  of 
that  trait  in  Houghton's  character,  the  skill  of  choosing  his 
men.  They  were  very  young  men,  including  the  Doctor  him- 
self, they  made  no  pretense  to  being  experts  in  natural 
science,  they  had  to  educate  themselves  to  become  good 
observers,  and  this  is  no  small  matter.  It  requires  vigilance 
and  practice  to  discriminate  the  various  kinds  of  rock  and 
minerals,  of  bog  ore,  coal  and  soils,  and  no  inconsiderable 
amount  of  study  to  master  even  the  nomenclature  of  a  science. 

In  regard  to  certain  problems  involved  in  the  discussion  of 
the  question  of  the  presence  of  minerals  in  the  upper  penin- 
sula, the  upheaval  of  rocks,  the  origin  of  mineral  veins,  and 
their  deposition  in  rocks  apparently  not  conformable  to  other 
regions,  in  portions  of  the  globe  corresponding  to  Lake 
Superior  geology;  these  and  related  questions  would  engage 
Houghton's  earnest  attention.  They  had  never  been  solved 
by  others — hardly  had  they  been  intelligently  entertained. 
Houghton  would  form  his  opinions  as  he  went  forward  and 
got  light  He  was  in  no  haste  to  proclaim  them.  In  the 
progress  of  his  careful  examinations,  his  theories  would 
tfecome  certainties,  and  after  his  convictions  were  thus  sus- 
tained by  hard  facts  that  had  come  under  his  own  eyes,  from 
personal  inspection,  he  had  the  courage  to  proclaim  them. 

A  meeting  of  the  American  Geological  Society  met  in 
Albany,  K  Y.  Young  man  as  he  was,  coming  from  a  far 
western  state,  a  new  name  in  the  galaxy  of  bright  stars  that 
shone  in  the  eastern  firmament,  he  had  claims  to  be  heard;  he 
arose  to  his  feet  in  his  place  to  address  the  learned  assembly. 
He  had  studied  the  subject  of  the  Lake  Superior  mining 


54  MEMOIR  OF 

region.  His  opinions  founded  on  his  own  experience  were 
presented  to  the  association  in  a  modest  but  clear  manner, 
and  he  sustained  these  views  with  his  usual  earnestness  and 

• 

ability.  It  should  be  remembered  that  the  association  was 
composed  of  such  men  as  Prof.  Hall,  the  Eogers  brothers,  of 
Pennsylvania,  Dana,  Silliman,  Torry,  and  many  others,  many 
of  whom  were  among  the  most  distinguished  of  living  geolo- 
gists. They  would  naturally  be  somewhat  incredulous  of 
these  new  and  dubious  theories  of  the  "backwoods  geologist 
of  Michigan."  This  quality  of  independent  thought  and 
action  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Houghton  has  not  been  surpassed. 
It  was  very  conspicuously  shown  in  his  views  on  the  subject 
now  under  discussion. 

He  was,  indeed,  little  disposed  to  be  led  by  other  men;  he 
would  reject  the  authority  of  names.  He  was  not  afraid  of 
new  paths  if  they  would  lead  him  to  truth.  Houghton  was 
willing  to  see  and  accept  of  facts  with  his  own  eyes,  and  to 
apply  them  with  his  own  honest  convictions.  Still  the 
Doctor  was  shy  of  new  theories  or  mere  speculations  in 
science.  This  feeling  might  even  reach  to  over- caution  or 
dread.  He  was  by  nature  cautious,  and  his  hesitation  to 
accept  speculative  views  in  science  will  be  remembered  as  a 
marked  trait  in  his  whole  career.  His  letters  and  reports 
attest  this. 

As  may  be  inferred,  the  social  qualities  of  Dr.  Houghton 
were  among  the  elements  that  drew  friends  to  him.  On  all 
subjects  connected  with  the  natural  sciences  his  information 
was  very  full  and  his  conversation  entertaining.  His  descrip- 
tions of  the  characters  he  had  met  on  the  water  or  in  the 
woods  were  graphic  and  racy.  He  was  well  read  in  books 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  55 

pertaining  to  the  sciences  he  was  pursuing,  and  kept  up  an 
extensive  correspondence.  He  could  hardly  drop  into  a  store 
or  office  without  being  surrounded  by  a  group  of  admirers. 
He  was  quick  and  cordial  to  make  friends. 

As  an  instance  of  tact,  we  remember  a  little  occurrence  at 
his  house  one  day  on  Wayne  street.  The  Doctor,  looking 
through  the  window,  saw  or  supposed  he  saw  a  gentleman 
passing  whom  he  wished  to  see  on  some  special  business,  and 
called  to  him  or  tapped  on  the  window;  but  he  discovered  his 
mistake  when  the  tall  form  of  Bishop  McCoskry  walked  into 
his  sanctum.  They  were  not  at  that  time  personally 
acquainted.  The  Doctor,  however,  instead  of  being  em- 
barrassed or  ready  to  apologize,  received  him  with  cordiality. 
He  at  once  began  some  inquiries  as  to  certain  features  of  the 
country  northwest,  where  he  knew  the  Bishop  had  been  visit- 
ing some  missionary  station,  I  think,  among  a  small  tribe  of 
Indians.  It  was  not  necessary  that  the  Bishop  should  know 
that  Dr.  Houghton  had  made  a  little  mistake.  The  acquaint- 
ance thus  commenced  was  a  very  cordial  one  and  often  of 
service. 

The  cause  of  temperance  in  these  primitive  days  had  not 
made  much  progress  in  Detroit.  Good  old  Jamaica  rum, 
apple  toddy,  and  the  sparkling  champagne,  were  as  free  as 
water,  and  many  citizens  were  better  acquainted  with  their 
seductive  qualities  than  with  the  natural  beverage  of  their 
wells. 

Houghton  was  brought  into  close  intercourse  with  all 
classes,  and  no  one  would  enter  more  heartily  into  social  life, 
and  it  is  saying  a  good  deal  when  we  declare  that  he  was 
absolutely  temperate.  This  resolute  abstemiousness  was 


56  MEMOIR   OF 

based  on  conviction  and  principle,  and  will  be  sufficiently 
appreciated  by  those  whose  memories  can  go  back  to  the 
period  of  1829  to  740.  Houghton  united  with  a  few  other 
friends  of  the  cause  to  form  the  first  temperance  society  of 
Detroit,  and  was  its  first  president. 

At  that  period  Detroit  was  famous  for  the  elegance  and 
refinement  of  its  inhabitants;  at  the  same  time  society  was 
marked  by  a  charming  simplicity.  It  had  been  a  military 
post  for  many  years.  The  governor  of  the  territory  was  a 
gentleman  of  noble  presence  and  of  high  attainments.  It  was 
the  residence  of  a  major-general  of  the  United  States  army. 
It  was  often  visited  by  Major-Gen.  McComb,  commanding 
general  of  the  national  forces.  Several  families  connected 
with  the  military  had  become  fixed  residents.  All  these  were 
persons  of  pleasing  manners.  The  Whitings,  the  Hunts,  the 
Casses,  the  Biddies,  the  Farnsworths,  the  Trowbridges,  the 
Hastings,  the  Masons,  and  other  conspicuous  families,  were 
abounding  in  hospitalities  and  entertainments.  Nor  was  it 
all  dissipation;  far  from  this.  There  was  beauty  and  gayety, 
but  not  a  spark  yet  of  shoddy  and  pretense.  The  night  might 
be  given  up  to  champagne  and  some  "noise  and  confusion," 
but  there  was  the  balance  wheel  of  culture,  love  of  order,  and 
love  of  ideas.  There  was  a  ready  and  prompt  appreciation 
of  merit.  Good  manners  and  good  intentions  then  had  their 
due  weight.  But  for  accurate  knowledge,  for  a  quick  sagacity, 
for  a  genial  temperament,  young  Houghton  was  equal  to  the 
foremost.  '  His  education  had  been  thorough.  ~No  man  in  the 
territory  could  stand  before  him.  This  was  not  classical,  for 
reasons  that  have  been  seen.  It  was  scientific  rather  than 
literary.  His  manners  were  open,  direct  and  confiding.  His 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  57 

mind  had  been  well  disciplined  by-  the  habit  of  writing  and 
by  lectures.  It  was  prompt  and  accurate  by  a  responsible 
intercourse  with  men  of  affairs,  even  before  he  was  twenty 
years  old.  Dr.  Hough  ton  embodied  in  the  character  of  his 
mind  the  Baconian  maxim  that  "Reading  makes  a  full  man, 
talking  makes  him  ready,  and  writing  makes  him  accurate.77 

Hougliton  had  the  instincts  of  a  gentleman;  he  was  quick 
to  consider  the  feelings  of  others.  His  patience  would  be 
often  tried  by  careless  or  impertinent  callers,  frequently 
speculators  in  disguise,  who  would  draw  from  the  Doctor 
information  touching  the  mineral  land  or  the  salt  springs,  but 
we  have  no  remembrance  of  any  show  of  irritation  under 
severe  trials. 

To  escape  interruption  he  often  commenced  his  hard 
studies  late  at  night,  and  they  were  prolonged  into  the  small 
hours  of  the  morning.  Houghton  was  a  bright  example  of 
the  students  of  a  liberal  science;  no  one  can  recall  on  his  part 
a  single  act  of  narrow  jealousy,  though  he  himself  did  not 
always  escape  the  concealed  weapons  of  the  envious  and 
the  illiberal. 

To  escape  the  possible  imputation  of  taking  advantages  of 
his  opportunities,  Dr.  Houghton  avoided  while  in  the  employ 
of  the  state  all  speculations,  though  his  chances  for  such  were 
peculiar  and  abundant. 

The  writer  was  in  Canada  when  Mr. Win.  Logan,  afterwards 
Sir  William,  and  so  well  known  as  an  eminent  geologist,  first 
reached  the  upper  province.  Kingston  was  temporarily  the 
seat  of  government.  Mr.  Logan  had  just  been  appointed 
geologist  of  Upper  Canada.  Before  he  commenced  the 
examination  of  Canadian  rocks  it  was  important  that  he 


58  MEMOIR  OF 

should  know  what  had  been  done  on  the  opposite  shore.  Mr. 
Logan  was  in  great  perplexity.  He  was  not  familiar  with  the 
labors  of  the  New  York  geologists  nor  those  of  Ohio.  He 
entertained  some  doubt  how  his  inquiries  would  be  received. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  he  was  an  Englishman  and  we 
were  "  Yankees;"  that  in  Canada  a  good  deal  of  ill  suppressed 
irritation  still  existed  among  all  classes,  growing  out  of  what 
has  been  termed  the  "Patriot  War."  Mr.  Logan  was  an 
accomplished  amateur  artist  as  well  as  a  scientist,  and  he  had 
called  several  times  on  the  writer.  Learning  his  anxiety 
and  hesitation,  we  wrote  Dr.  Houghton,  then  in  Detroit,  but 
without  the  knowledge  of  Logan.  In  a  few  days  Mr.  Logan 
received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Houghton  full  of  generous  expres- 
sions of  welcome,  and  the  offer  of  every  assistance  he  could 
give,  proffering  access  to  all  sources  of  information  his 
department  could  furnish.  This  was  very  agreeable  to  a 
stranger,  and  the  Canadian  geologist  called  immediately  to 
express  his  thanks  and  gratification. 

It  was  said  of  Charles  Fox,  the  great  orator  and  liberal 
statesman  of  English  history — this  was  the  language  of 
Edmund  Burke — that  it  was  impossible  to  know  him  and  not 
love  him.  There  was  a  charm  in  the  deportment  and  manners 
of  Houghton  that  one  could  not  resist.  His  quick  sympathy 
and  hearty  appreciation  drew  friends  to  him  and  secured  their 
co-operation.  His  devotion  to  science,  his  profound  insight 
into  principles  obscure  often  to  others,  the  dangers  he 
encountered,  the  wilderness  he  explored,  the  coasts  he 
traversed,  these  had  made  his  name  associated  with  that  of 
Humboldt.  The  nerve,  the  courage,  incessant  toil  and  splendid 
achievements  of  the  late  French  savant,  Victor  Jaquemont, 


DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON.  59 

strongly  remind  us  of  the  bright  but  brief  career  of  the 
Michigan  geologist. 

The  readers  of  this  memoir  of  Dr.  Houghton  will  pardon 
the  author  if  he  shall  dwell  at  some  length  on  such  traits  and 
anecdotes  as  will  tend  to  illustrate  his  character.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  after  a  lapse  of  more  than  forty  years,  there 
will  not  be  found  many  incidents  of  his  life  that  can  be 
recalled.  It  is  incidental  to  a  new  country  that  its  pioneers 
shall  give  their  services  and  their  lives  to  build  up  and 
develop  the  resources  of  the  country,  whose  population  at  the 
time  will  be  but  little  impressed  with  the  value  of  such  labors. 
At  a  later  day,  when  a  succeeding  generation  may  desire  to 
do  honor  and  raise  monuments  to  their  memory,  it  will  be 
found  that  much  of  the  detail  of  life,  many  acts  and  many 
incidents  that  would  throw  light  on  a  career,  have  passed 
away  forever.  No  instance  can  be  recalled  of  his  taking 
credit  for  generous  acts.  The  following  occurrence  is  here 
mentioned,  and  will  be  remembered  by  some  of  the  old 
friends : 

An  uncle  of  Dr.  Houghton  had  bought  a  farm  in  Wis- 
consin, and  had  moved  his  family  from  Chautauqua  county, 
N.  Y.,  to  his  new  home.  The  financial  cyclone  of  738  over- 
took him  there,  and  the  mortgage  on  his  farm  would  soon  be 
foreclosed  unless  paid.  In  fact,  he  was  in  peril  of  losing  his 
homestead  and  his  family  reduced  to  poverty.  He  had  no 
resources  in  Wisconsin.  He  must  seek  Dr.  Houghton,  in  the 
hope  that  he  would  be  able  to  relieve  him.  To  do  this,  he 
would  have  to  "foot  it7'  a  good  many  miles  even  to  reach  a 
stage  coach,  and  it  would  take  a  full  week  to  reach  Detroit. 
In  twenty  days  his  day  of  grace  would  run  out.  At  that  time 


60  MEMOIR  OF 

there  were  no  railroads  and  no  telegraphs.  Mr.  Douglass 
could  not  know  the  fact,  but  Dr.  Houghton  himself  was  deeply 
embarrassed  and  hardly  knew  how  it  would  be  possible  for  him 
to  get  through  the  panic.  Perhaps  no  city  in  the  Union  suf- 
fered more  from  the  utter  prostration  of  business  and  collapse 
of  credit  than  did  Detroit. 

But  the  Doctor,  when  his  uncle  reached  him,  worn  with 
anxiety  and  wearied  with  travel,  cheered  him  with  hope. 
$700  was  necessary  to  be  raised.  A  good  many  old  professional 
debts  were  still  outstanding.  Houghton  resolved  that  he 
would  raise  this  amount.  He  did  not  write  notes  and  send 
out  bills, — but  with  bills  in  his  hands  he  started  out  deter- 
mined to  collect  the  amount.  In  forty -eight  hours  the  amount 
was  raised,  some  of  it  borrowed,  and  his  uncle  started  for  his 
home  rejoicing,  reaching  his  home  just  in  time  to  save  it. 

Those  who  knew  Dr.  Houghton  will  remember  that  such 
an  act  as  this  was  not  exceptional  with  him. 

The  following  is  related  by  a  friend  who  was  with  him 
traveling  east  by  stage  from  Toledo  along  the  lake  shore — this 
was  before  the  days  of  railroads.  Houghton  was  on  his  way 
to  Albany  to  a  meeting  of  the  Association  of  Geologists.  The 
roads  on  the  low  ground  by  the  lake  shore  in  the  autumn  sea- 
son were  usually  bad.  Progress  was  slow;  the  coach  was  full 
of  passengers  all  impatient  of  delay  and  mostly  disposed  to  be 
in  bad  humor.  This  friend,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Buffalo, 
the  Hon.  Henry  W.  Eogers,  a  great  story  teller  himself,  says 
that  Dr.  Houghton' s  resources  were  marvelous  and  inexhaust- 
ible. A  coach  full  of  total  strangers,  cramped  and  confined, 
shy  of  too  much  confidence,  like  most  American  travelers, 
would  resist  these  attacks  on  their  reticent  dignity.  But  long 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  61 

before  they  reached  Albany,  Houghton' s  versatility,  his  win- 
ning ways,  his  good  humor,  had  captivated  everyone.  There 
was  one  exception,  however;  an  elderly  gentleman,  who  would 
not  yield  to  these  noisy  seductions,  but  wrapped  himself  in  his 
dignity  and  reserve.  He  was  also  a  geologist  on  his  way  to 
Albany,  but  the  two  gentlemen  were  strangers.  On  his  reach- 
ing Albany,  this  stranger  and  member  of  the  association  soon 
found  the  hall  where  his  associates  were  to  meet.  His  sur- 
prise may  be  imagined,  when  he  saw  his  recent  companion  of 
the  stage  coach,  rise  to  his  feet  to  address  the  Association  ! 

But  we  are  a  little  in  advance  of  our  journey.  The  stage 
was  to  pass  through  Fredonia,  the  residence  of  his  parents; 
it  would  pass  through  about  twelve  at  night.  The  Houghton 
mansion  stands  on  the  edge  of  the  village.  A  half  mile,  per- 
haps, before  they  reached  the  house,  Houghton  got  out  of  the 
stage,  and  ran  ahead  through  rain  and  mud,  to  have  an  inter- 
view with  his  mother.  He  would  not  ask  the  passengers  to 
wait  for  him.  This  tender  affection  for  his  mother  was  a  liv- 
ing flame  of  his  soul;  a  tap  on  the  window  would  bring  them 
again  face  to  face;  a  few  cheering  words,  a  promise  to  come 
and  make  a  visit,  some  advice  left  for  the  family,  an  embrace 
and  a  blessing,  and  the  eager,  resolute  young  savant  was  off 
and  again  striding  through  the  mud  to  overtake  the  coach. 
Nothing  but  death  could  cool  or  abate  that  profound  love  and 
devotion  he  felt  for  his  parents.  It  is  impossible  to  do  justice 
to  Houghton  without  a  reference  to  these  traits  of  his  char- 
acter; his  brothers  and  sisters  he  held  as  dear  as  his  own 
life. 

Mrs.  Houghton,  the  Doctor's  young  wife,  was  the  daughter 
of  a  Mr.  Stevens,  of  Fredonia,  New  York;  they  had  known 


62  MEMOIR  OF 

each  other  from  childhood.  She  was  a  young  lady  of  culture 
and  refined  sympathies.  As  soon  as  the  Doctor's  business 
would  allow  it  they  were  married,  and  the  young  couple  com- 
menced their  house- keeping.  Doctor  Houghton  bought  the 
substantial  frame  house  on  or  near  the  corner  of  Wayne  and 
Lamed  streets,  where  the  family  continued  to  reside  up  to 
Houghton' s  death. 

Mrs.  Houghton  was  well  known  to  all  the  leading  families 
of  Detroit, — a  devout  Christian,  a  devoted  wife  and  mother. 
Her  goodness  and  her  charities  were  the  natural  offspring  of 
a  most  tender  sympathizing  nature  and  sound  Christian  prin- 
ciples. She  made  her  home  a  welcome  resort  of  her  husband's 
Mends,  and  her  own  winning  and  sincere  manners  contributed 
largely  to  the  social  popularity  of  the  Houghton  house.  She 
was  the  mother  of  two  daughters,  Hattie  and  Mary,  both  now 
living;  the  eldest  is  the  wife  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Morgan,  of  Cold- 
water,  of  this  State.  Mary  is  married  to  Dr.  Haroun,  who 
settled  in  Chicago;  both  these  gentlemen  are  graduates  of  the 
Michigan  University. 

Long  before  and  during  the  first  years  of  the  geological  sur- 
vey, the  Doctor's  house  had  virtually  become  a  museum  of 
natural  history.  His  private  collection  was  large;  he  had 
already  accumulated  a  valuable  library,  both  miscellaneous 
and  scientific.  All  the  lower  rooms  were  given  up  to  these 
and  to  the  increasing  volume  of  specimens  in  all  branches  of 
natural  history.  They  were  constantly  accumulating  from 
many  sources,  and  he  was  finally  forced  to  seek  larger  rooms 
for  his  accommodation.  These  he  found  on  the  corner  of  Jef- 
ferson and  Woodward  avenues,  where  the  Young  Men's 
Library  was  until  recently  located. 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  63 

Dr.  Houghton  had  now,  in  the  fall  of  '45,  brought  his 
great  labors  so  far  to  a  close,  and  so  near  the  time  when  he 
would  be  able  to  devote  his  mind  to  the  methodizing  his 
materials,  as  really  to  offer  him  some  prospect  of  comparative 
rest.  He  could  look  back  on  these  struggles  with  some  satis- 
faction Although  his  health  had  suffered  severely,  he  might 
hope  for  a  restoration,  and  for  a  completion  of  that  fame,  the 
foundation  of  which  had  been  laid  in  a  fervid  devotion  to  the 
great  mission  of  his  life. 

In  these  pages  we  have  traced  his  career  in  the  State  of  his 
adoption  almost  from  boyhood.  The  practice  of  his  profession 
as  physician  and  surgeon  in  Detroit,  with  a  high  reputation, 
seemed  to  him  only  a  means.  His  mind  was  bent  upon  the 
study  of  the  sciences.  He  saw  that  this  State  offered  a  field 
for  new  and  important  discoveries.  He  had  no  fortune  to 
spend,  that  he  might  carry  on  these  explorations  and  labors 
without  assistance;  he  must  educate  people  up  to  this  great 
theme;  and  that  wealth  which  would  be  the  outcome  of  the 
scientific  examination  of  the  resources  of  the  State  of  Michi- 
gan, could  only  be  made  a  certainty  by  the  united  action  of 
the  Legislature  and  the  enlightened  friends  of  culture.  It 
was  his  resolute  and  persistent  mind  that  would  unite  these 
various  conflicting  elements  and  fuse  them  into  a  power  that 
he  could  wield.  In  truth,  such  was  his  hopeful  nature  and 
the  faith  he  had  in  his  own  power,  that  he  never  had  a  doubt 
of  success.  All  along,  his  progress  was  upward  and  onward. 
He  never  halted; — even  from  the  moment  he  landed  from  the 
steamer  at  Detroit,  we  might  believe  almost,  that  a  premoni- 
tion of  a  brief  life  had  admonished  and  impelled  him  to 
incessant  toil.  A  Christian  philosopher  has  said,  that  "he 


64  MEMOIR   OF 

who  is  cut  off  in  the  execution  of  a  noble  enterprise  has  at 
least  the  honor  of  falling  in  his  ranks,  and  has  fought  his  bat- 
tle, though  he  missed  the  victory." 

It  was  on  the  13th  day  of  October,  1845,  that  Dr.  Hough- 
ton  was  lost  on  Lake  Superior.  He  had  left  Eagle  Eiver  in 
the  morning  in  an  open  sail  boat,  making  his  way  along  the 
shore  west  some  eight  or  ten  miles.  The  Doctor  wished  to 
reach  the  camping  ground  of  his  surveying  company  under 
the  superintendence  of  a  Mr.  Hill;  as  this  corps  of  men  were 
to  remain  through  the  long  winter  in  this  region,  Dr.  Hough- 
ton  desired  to  give  them  his  final  instruction,  as  he  would 
soon  return  to  Detroit.  It  was  late  before  he  reached  these 
men,  and  the  interview  was  necessarily  prolonged  into  the 
night.  Mr.  Hill  then  advised  the  Doctor  to  wait  till  morning, 
but  Houghton  had  important  despatches  that  should  go  to 
Eagle  Eiver,  and  down  the  lake  by  schooner.  As  the  vessel 
would  leave  in  the  morning,  it  was  really  important  that  he 
should  be  there,  as  these  opportunities  at  that  season  would 
be  very  rare,  and  his  anxiety  was  the  greater,  therefore,  not 
to  fail  to  be  at  Eagle  Eiver  that  night.  A  storm  threatened, 
but  it  would  take  only  a  few  hours  to  get  back,  and  the  night 
was  not  dark.  They  were  in  an  open  boat  propelled  both  by 
sail  and  oars.  The  wind  was  rising;  a  snow  storm  had  set  in. 
The  Doctor  was  at  the  helm,  as  was  his  custom.  They  were 
obliged  to  take  in  sail  and  depend  on  the  oars.  There  were 
five  men  in  the  boat.  The  weather  was  cold;  'October  on 
Lake  Superior  is  a  late  season.  They  put  out  about  nine 
o'clock  at  night.  At  this  time  the  wind  was  blowing  hard 
from  the  north.  They  had  not  gone  many  miles  when  they 
discovered  that  the  boat  was  making  but  slow  progress, 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  65 

though  the  men  were  bending  well  to  their  work.  A  storm 
of  snow  sharpened  by  a  northern  blast  beat  in  the  faces 
of  the  weather-hardened  mariners.  It  was  now  necessary  to 
put  well  out  to  sea  to  get  around  a  point  of  rocks,  a  low, 
broken  promontory  that  shelved  to  a  considerable  distance 
seaward.  Dr.  Houghton's  anxiety  to  reach  Eagle  Eiver  no 
doubt  betrayed  him  here;  but  he  was  not  daunted,  he  encour- 
aged his  men  to  brave  the  storm.  The  waves  had  increased 
in  violence  and  were  running  high.  We  must  remember  that 
this  was  an  open  boat  with  five  men,  his  faithful  dog—  a  black 
and  white  spaniel,  Meemee  by  name,  who  ^as  always  with  the 
Doctor,  and  often  of  service— his  specimens,  valuable  field 
book,  instruments,  notes,  etc.,  such  as  must  accompany  him 
at  all  times.  The  frail  bark  could  only  be  propelled  now  by 
oars  in  the  midst  of  this  whirl  of  wind  and  wave.  The 
Doctor  was  accustomed  to  steer  his  own  boat,  especially  when 
there  might  be  danger.  They  had  now  rounded  the  point, 
and  at  intervals  could  see  the  light  through  the  haze  of  the 
storm,  at  the  mouth  of  Eagle  Eiver.  Houghton  knew  the 
coast  well.  He  was  familiar  with  such  storms,  and  within 
sight  of  land  did  not  fear  the  result.  It  is  easy  for  us  now  to 
say  that  he  ought  to  have  paid  more  heed  to  the  signs  of  the 
coming  tempest.  But  who  can  blame  him  for  trusting  to  his 
own  judgment,  to  his  own  skill  and  good  fortune?  Heretofore 
these  had  never  deserted  him.  By  courage  and  intrepidity  he 
had  often  escaped  destruction.  No  man  under  such  circum- 
stances can  determine  the  extent  of  danger,  or  the  moment 
when  he  must  not  venture  another  chance.  His  men  even 
now  proposed  to  go  ashore,  which  in  itself  would  be  perilous, 
but  the  Doctor  encouraged  them  to  proceed.  "  We  are  not 

(5) 


66  MEMOIR  OF 

far  from  Eagle  River,"  he  said;  "pull  away,  my  boys,  we 
shall  soon  be  there — pull  steady  and  hard."  Did  he  imperil 
the  lives  of  his  men,  so  did  he  his  own  life.  No  danger  that 
they  could  be  exposed  to  would  he  shrink  from.  But  amidst 
the  increased  violence  of  the  gale  the  boat  encountered  the 
surf  and  was  instantly  capsized.  They  all  went  under  for  a 
moment;  Dr.  Houghton  was  raised  from  the  water  by  his 
trusty  companion  and  friend,  Peter  McFarland.  He  told  the 
Doctor  to  cling  to  the  keel,  then  uppermost.  "  Never  mind 
me,"  cried  Houghton;  "you  go  ashore  if  you  can.  Be  sure 
I'll  get  ashore  without  aid."  Everything  in  the  boat  was 
now  lost,  scattered  on  the  tossing  waves;  but  the  men  were  all 
good  swimmers,  and  very  soon  the  boat  was  righted,  the  water 
bailed  out,  and  these  devoted  heroes  all  again  at  their  oars 
obedient  to  command.  But  this  bright  interval  was  of  brief 
duration.  In  a  moment  after,  a  wave  struck  her  with  such 
force,  that  the  vessel  receiving  the  blow  at  the  stern  was 
dashed  high  in  the  air,  the  boat  going  over  endways,  and 
everyone  thrown  again  into  the  tumultuous  sea.  Even  at  this 
moment  they  were  not  over  two  hundred  yards  from  the 
shore.  Two  of  these  hardy  mariners  with  exhausted  bodies, 
reached  the  rocky  beach,  or  rather  were  thrown  with  violence 
on  the  stones  in  a  helpless  condition.  But  the  leader  of  that 
devoted  band,  in  spite  of  Peter's  heroic  efforts  and  his  own 
unshaken  courage,  went  down  not  again  to  rise.  It  was  in 
this  way  and  at  that  moment  that  Douglass  Houghton 
perished. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  describe  the  mournful  disap- 
pointment and  grief  that  touched  all  hearts  when  the  news  of 
this  calamity  reached  Detroit.  It  was,  indeed,  a  sincere  and 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  67 

profound  sorrow.  The  citizens  of  Michigan  who  had  watched 
his  progress  with  so  much  pride  felt  now  that  the  most  gifted 
man  in  the  state  had  been  suddenly  and  mysteriously  cut  off 
at  the  very  moment  when  he  was  to  achieve  victory.  A  light, 
luminous  and  expanding  had  been  extinguished.  Every  man 
grieved  as  for  the  loss  of  a  relative.  The  city  in  truth  was  in 
mourning.  Some  outward  expression  of  these  overpowering 
feelings  would  find  utterance.  The  common  council  was  con- 
vened for  this  purpose  by  the  mayor  of  Detroit.  Tender 
resolutions  of  appreciation  and  sympathy  were  passed,  affect- 
ing allusion  being  made  to  the  Doctor  as  so  recently  presiding 
over  their  deliberations.  But  this  action  of  the  common 
council  was  thought  to  be  insufficient  to  express  the  popular 
and  widespread  sentiment  of  distress.  A  public  meeting  was 
therefore  called  at  the  city  hall,  that  the  citizens  at  large 
might  be  able  in  this  way  to  give  a  wider  and  more  emphatic 
expression  of  this  universal  sorrow.  At  this  meeting  resolu- 
tions offered  by  the  Hon.  Zina  Pitcher,  his  early  and  fast 
friend,  were  passed,  that  embodied  the  utterance  of  the  most 
tender  sentiments  of  love,  admiration  and  condolence.  In 
the  streets  you  would  hear  these  words:  "Is  it  true  that 
Douglass  Hough  ton  is  dead?"  "  Is  it  possible  that  we  shall 
see  our  friend  no  moref  Such  were  the  exclamations  every- 
where heard.  His  fellow  citizens  could  not  give  him  up.  No 
affection,  no  sorrow  could  equal  this,  unless  some  precious 
member  of  one's  family  had  been  snatched  suddenly  from  a 
mother's  arms.  His  whole  life  so  far  had  been  an  honor  to 
the  state.  In  science  he  was  distinguished  abroad;  at  home 
his  friends  expected  to  crown  him  with  a  special  honor.  They 
would  place  him  in  the  highest  position  in  their  power  to  bestow. 


68  MEMOIR   OF 

He  had,  indeed,  so  identified  himself  with  the  best  interests  and 
the  future  of  Michigan,  was  so  replete  with  intellectual  and 
progressive  life,  so  intrepid  in  action,  so  faithful  to  the  highest 
duty.  In  the  course  of  Houghton' s  labors  through  the  wilder- 
ness or  on  the  bleak  coast  of  the  north,  how  few  of  his  friends 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  could  realize  the  dangers  that 
surrounded  him  ?  These  perils  were  constant  and  far  more 
imminent  than  could  be  realized  except  by  those  who  had 
shared  his  hardships.  The  citizens  of  Detroit  watched  his 
return  from  these  explorations  with  increasing  interest.  The 
story  of  wreck,  of  passing  down  foaming  cataracts,  of  crossing 
swollen  rivers,  of  wet  powder,  of  short  rations,  of  storm  with- 
out shelter;  these  were  told  everywhere.  But  no  one  ever 
thought  that  Dr.  Houghton  might  at  last  fall  a  sacrifice  to  these 
exposures.  This  sort  of  confidence  in  his  star,  in  his  future, 
was  shared  by  the  whole  community. 

The  entire  coast  east  and  west  of  Michigan,  and  the  shores 
of  Lake  Superior  had  been  traversed.  The  vast  wilderness, 
from  the  extreme  eastern  shores  of  the  upper  peninsula  to  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi,  on  three  widely  separated  but 
approximately  parallel  lines,  had  been  threaded  in  person  by 
Dr.  Houghton.  His  assistants  were  able  and  efficient;  they 
were  devoted  to  their  chief — all  glowing  with  confidence  in 
him  and  faith  in  the  future.  So  far  the  very  elements  had 
shielded  him  The  glory  of  new  discoveries  in  science,  a 
generous  ambition,  lifted  him  above  the  thoughts  of  rest  or 
fear.  Though  broken  in  health,  neither  storm  nor  the  wilder 
ness  had  any  terrors  for  him.  He  was  often  in  the  presence  of 
sublime  scenes  of  nature;  the  forest  growth  of  untold  centu- 
ries, or  the  shattered  masses  of  rock,  evidences  of  irresistible 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  69 

and  sudden  disturbance.  He  had  but  few  words  to  express 
his  emotions,  but  he  had  all  the  sensibility  to  appreciate  the 
grandeur  of  such  scenes.  These  he  felt  to  be  the  work  of  a 
power  beyond  that  of  man,  and  he  loved  to  contemplate  them. 
This  communion  with  nature  removed  from  his  mind  the 
clouds  of  doubt  that  might  gather  there.  The  deep  forests, 
the  rocky  coasts,  the  moaning  winds,  all  spoke  to  him  in  a 
voice  which  he  could  understand. 

These  aspects  of  nature  he  loved;  long  intimacy  with  such 
had  made  them,  as  it  were,  his  companions.  With  all  his 
gayety  of  manner  and  social  impulses,  there  was  in  the  con- 
stitution of  Houghton  a  deep  sentiment  of  reverence  for  the 
mysteries  of  nature, — not  the  systems  of  man.  He  did  not 
discuss  religious  themes,  but  his  convictions  were  deep  and 
sincere.  He  respected  the  creed  and  services  of  the  church  in 
which  he  was  nurtured,  but  he  did  not  attempt  to  solve  the 
mysteries  of  faith  or  God's  providence.  But  amidst  his  labors, 
surrounded  by  the  visible  marvels  of  the  greatest  of  architects, 
he  saw,  u God's  temples  not  made  with  hands."  If  indeed  he 
was  not  bound  to  any  sect,  if  he  was  shy  of  mere  forms  of 
worship,  he  might  yet  see  Deity  in  the  clouds  and  hear  His 
voice  in  the  winds; — nor  could  it  well  be  otherwise,  but  that 
these  studies,  these  associations,  should  lead  him  to  reverence; 
and  science,  the  dream  of  his  life,  did  not  undermine  his  faith. 

It  was  amid  this  tumult  of  the  wild  elements  of  nature, 
amid  forces  that  no  skill  and  no  courage  could  master,  in  the 
good  cause  of  science,  truth  and  duty,  bravely  and  tenderly 
he  yielded  up  his  spirit. 

The  upper  peninsula  of  Michigan  had  not  been  explored 
in  any  systematic  manner  before  the  time  of  Houghton.  The 


70  MEMOIR   OF 

large  masses  of  pure  copper  that  had  been  seen  from  time  to 
time  by  adventurous  travelers  in  that  region,  and  especially 
that  unique  mass  on  the  banks  of  the  Ontonogon,  had  excited 
great  curiosity.  But  all  these  strange,  loose  pieces  of  copper 
were  but  bowlders  out  of  place.  They  had  no  relation  neces- 
sarily to  the  rocks  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  Although 
an  English  company  in  former  years  had  had  the  faith  or  the 
temerity  to  sink  a  shaft  on  the  spot  with  "  great  expectations," 
the  scientific  truth  could  only  be  determined  by  the  careful 
examinations  of  a  geologist.  These  outlying  bowlders  of  cop- 
per had  been  known  for  a  century,  but  they  had  missled  every- 
one. Years  before  Dr.  Houghton  had  been  appointed  geolo- 
gist of  the  State,  he  had  traversed  that  pathless  region,  first 
by  the  northern  shores  of  the  peninsula,  and  afterwards  more 
centrally  and  mostly  through  a  dense  wilderness.  These 
earlier  explorations  were  extended  to  the  banks  of  the  Missi- 
sippi.  It  was  these  labors  that  gave  the  Doctor  intimations  of 
the  true  relation  of  the  rocks  to  each  other,  so  that  when  he 
entered  on  the  survey  to  which  he  had  been  appointed,  he  was 
not  without  definite  views  and  strong  convictions  touching  the 
mineral  wealth  of  the  upper  peninsula;  and  his  subsequent 
official  studies  of  this  little  known  region  resulted  in  a  con- 
firmation of  these  earlier  conclusions  to  which  his  mind  was 
advancing. 

In  science,  as  in  letters  and  art,  there  must  be  enthusiasm; 
nor  can  we  ignore  the  force  of  the  imagination.  It  is  by  this 
divine  gift  that  the  mind  can  achieve  great  discoveries  and 
great  triumphs.  Houghton' s  enthusiasm  sustained  him  amid 
all  these  past  hardships  and  sufferings;  nothing  else  could 
have  carried  him  through.  These  labors,  this  enthusiasm, 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  71 

will  remind  one  of  the  great  Scotch  geologist,  the  word- 
painter  of  the  old  "Bed-sand  Stone  Memory,"  whose  works 
awakened  such  profound  interest  throughout  England  and 
America,  forty  years  ago.  But  Hugh  Miller  had  one  advan- 
tage over  the  Michigan  geologist;  his  rocks  were  more  recent, 
and  were  alive,  so  to  say,  with  the  fossil  remains  of  a  remote 
and  mysterious  vitality.  The  reconciliation  of  these  discover- 
ies with  certain  questions,  or  axioms  of  his  theology,  perhaps 
disturbed  the  serenity  of  an  intellect  of  admirable  force;  and 
possibly,  at  last,  shrouded  in  clouds  a  life  that  had  been 
devoted  with  extraordinary  zeal  to  the  cause  of  science.  But 
there  must  be  a  charm  beyond  language  to  express,  to  be  delv- 
ing among  rocks  that  at  any  moment  may  open  to  the  eyes 
some  embodied  silhouette  or  skeleton  of  a  fish  or  reptile — some 
embryonic  form  that  shall  point  to  a  connection  or  an  evolu- 
tion of  extinct  races  of  being. 

This  promise  of  fossil  existence  among  the  granite  and 
trap  rocks  of  the  upper  peninsula  was  not  offered  as  a  stimu- 
lus to  Dr.  Houghton;  he  knew  they  must  be  barren  of  this 
interest. 

One  of  the  greatest  of  students  in  science,  especially  in 
geology  and  rock  literature,  was  Louis  Agassiz.  A  careful 
examination  of  the  deep  canons  of  the  Swiss  Alps  had  occu- 
pied him  for  several  years.  The  mysterious  moraines  of  these 
valleys  and  the  striated  surfaces  of  shales  and  granite,  the 
cutting  along  the  sides  of  mountain  declivities,  were  phenom 
ena  of  a  mysterious  and  unexplained  nature.  They  had  been 
noticed  by  all  observers,  and  they  had  puzzled  and  confounded 
all.  But  Agassiz  saw  in  these  strange  but  uniform  phenomena 
the  stupendous  action  of  the  land  ice-bergs,  and  the  grand 


72  MEMOIR  OF 

system  of  the  glacial  degradation  of  mountain  ranges  of 
granite  was  thus  evolved  Fortunate  was  Agassiz  beyond 
most  men  that  he  not  only  lived  long  enough  to  see  his  views 
fully  confirmed  and  accepted  by  the  savants  of  the  world,  but 
that  his  lot  had  been  chosen  among  a  people  that  could 
appreciate  and  reward  his  genius. 

The  northern  portion  of  Michigan  presented  a  geographi- 
cal area  of  great  extent;  not  less  than  three  hundred  miles, 
touching  Lake  Superior,  stretching  west  and  northward,  and 
from  fifty  to  seventy-five  miles  in  width.  It  was  almost 
wholly  a  dense  wilderness.  The  few  fishing  and  trading  posts 
along  the  coast  would  be  considered  hardly  an  exception. 
Before  Houghton'  s  time  no  one  had  pretended  to  solve  the 
mysteries  that  hung  over  these  deep  forests,  these  rugged 
upheavals  of  granite,  trap,  sand  and  metamorphic  rocks. 
There  had  been  intimations  of  the  presence  of  minerals  of 
great  value.  But  as  no  one  had  been  able  to  determine  the 
relation  of  these  rocks  to  time  and  place,  so  no  definite  know- 
ledge as  to  their  contents  could  be  possessed  by  any  one,  for 
those  portions  of  the  rock  that  were  visible  along  the  coast, 
or  within  gorges  that  had  been  opened  by  disruption,  or  cut 
by  water  courses,  presented  in  fact  so  much  of  confusion  and 
complexity,  that  all  observers  heretofore  had  been  baffled  in 
every  conjecture  about  them.  To  examine  these  with  the 
eyes  of  an  outdoor  scientist,  to  bring  the  labor,  the  patience, 
the  power  of  endurance  to  bear  on  these  problems,  would 
demand  rare  qualifications  on  the  part  of  a  geologist  and  a  close 
inspection  of  scattered  and  isolated  facts.  Their  value  when 
applied  to  theories  and  results,  required  a  cool  head  and  acute 
powers  of  reasoning.  In  these  discussions  important  princi- 


DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON.  73 

pies  were  involved,  and  his  standing  before  the  world  of 
science  would  be  tested.  It  required,  indeed,  a  remarkable 
grasp  of  thought  to  be  able  to  arrange  and  methodize  these 
wide  spread  and  often  obscure  facts,  and  so  fuse  them  as  to  dis- 
play the  genuine  metal  of  truth.  That  Dr.  Houghton  pos- 
sessed these  essential  qualities  no  one  can  doubt  who  will 
study  the  record  of  labors  he  has  left  behind,  his  letters  herein 
published,  and  his  masterly  reports  to  the  legislature.  Some 
of  these  reports  and  letters  are  now  for  the  first  time  placed 
before  the  citizens  of  Michigan  in  a  connected  popular  form. 

It  has  been  undertaken  to  give  in  an  Appendix  a  careful 
summary  of  all  the  reports  which  emanated  from  the  depart- 
ments, while  under  the  surveillance  of  the  first  state  geologist. 
These  constituted  the  basis  of  all  the  explorations  that  have 
since  followed,  and  though  much  has  been  published  by  other 
men  of  science,  covering  the  same  ground  fully  and  well, 
the  earlier  reports  can  never  be  superceded  in  interest  and 
importance  to  the  people  of  Michigan.  It  has  been  the  aim 
of  this  summary  to  note  the  more  important  points  and  con- 
clusions, free  from  the  cumbrous  array  of  facts. 

As  the  report  of  1841  upon  the  geology  of  the  Lake 
Superior  district  has  long  been  entirely  out  of  print,  no 
apology  seems  to  be  needed  for  its  republication  here  in  full. 

The  summary  is  followed  by  a  review  or  general  statement 
of  all  that  has  been  published  on  the  geology  of  Michigan 
since  the  death  of  Dr.  Houghton. 

Prof.  Alexander  Winchell,  of  the  Michigan  University, 
has  in  generous  words  repeatedly  given  Dr.  Houghton  that 
meed  of  praise  and  honor  which  he  had  so  well  earned. 
Prof.  Winchell  was  appointed  State  Geologist  in  1859. 


74  MEMOIR  OF 

Speaking  of  the  labors  of  Houghton,  he  says:  "  Though  the 
work  was  unavoidably  arduous  for  the  Geologist,  and  expen- 
sive for  the  State,  it  served  to  acquaint  us  at  an  early  day 
with  many  of  the  sources  of  our  mineral  wealth,  and  to 
awaken  and  maintain  a  lively  desire  for  more  full  and  definite 
information  relative  to  the  coal,  salt,  gypsum,  copper  and 
iron,  of  which  the  published  reports  of  progress  had  afforded 
hasty  glimpses.  Dr.  Houghton' s  report,  published  in  1841, 
furnished  the  world  with  the  first  definite  information  relative 
to  native  copper  in  place  on  Lake  Superior,  and  the  promise 
of  wealth  now  so  rapidly  growing  up  in  that  region,  has  been, 
to  a  great  extent,  created  by  the  attention  drawn  in  that 
direction  by  the  report  of  my  lamented  predecessor." 

The  sudden  death  of  Dr.  Houghton  arrested  the  progress 
of  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State.  The  final  report  so 
often  alluded  to  in  his  brief  papers  to  the  legislature,  and 
which  must  so  much  depend  on  Houghton' s  faithful  perform- 
ance, has  never  been  given  to  the  public.  In  the  meantime, 
the  labors  and  sacrifices  of  the  great  Geologist  are  passing  out 
of  the  memory  of  men.  The  notes  left  by  Dr.  Houghton,  or 
a  compilation  of  them,  together  with  such  materials  as  could 
be  collected  intended  for  his  final  report,  would  have  been 
published,  it  is  stated,  but  for  the  refusal  of  the  Executive  to 
act  on  the  resolutions  of  the  Legislature  empowering  the  Gov- 
ernment to  cause  such  publication  to  be  made. 

There  is  hardly  a  sketch  of  his  life  to  be  found  in  any  of 
our  public  libraries.  His  able  reports  are  entirely  out  of 
print;  it  is  difficult  if  not  impossible  to  find  a  copy,  while 
every  season  gives  us  new  evidence  of  the  value  of  his  explora- 
tions. All  his  discoveries  and  his  convictions  are  being  con- 


DOUGLASS   HOUGHTON.  75 

firmed  by  subsequent  observers,  and  while  the  State  is  being 
enriched  by  his  unpaid  labors,  his  fellow  citizens  who  enjoy 
the  honor  he  conferred  on  the  State,  are  to  a  great  extent 
ignorant  of  the  life  and  labor  of  Douglass  Houghton. 

A  discourse  by  Prof.  Alvah  Bradish,  giving  some  more 
full  account  of  Houghton' s  earlier  life,  and  tracing  somewhat 
his  earlier  career,  has  been  read  by  invitation  before  several 
scientific  and  literary  societies.  It  was  read  before  the  Young 
Men's  Society,  of  Detroit.  The  invitation  in  this  case  seemed 
particularly  appropriate,  as  both  Dr.  Houghton  and  Mr. 
Bradish  were  among  the  first  members  and  founders  of  that 
literary  society.  It  was  read  before  the  members  of  the 
Audubon  Club.  Once  before  the  Pioneer  Society  of  this  State. 
The  Historical  Society  of  Buffalo  had  invited  its  reading 
before  its  members;  and  in  1879,  Prof.  Bradish  read  his  dis- 
course by  invitation  before  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives at  Lansing. 


76  APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX   I. 


PEN  PORTRAITS  OF  SOME  EARLY  FRIENDS  OF  DR. 
HOUGHTON,  AT  DETROIT. 


At  the  period  when  Dr.  Houghton  came  to  Detroit  to  give 
a  course  of  lectures  on  the  natural  sciences,  the  city  might 
have  numbered  about  four  thousand  inhabitants.  It  was  still 
a  military  post — the  residence  of  a  Major-General  of  the 
United  States  Army.  American  officers,  with  rare  exceptions, 
are  gentlemen  who  respect  culture, — and  the  old  French  fam- 
ilies were  not  insensible  to  the  progress  of  new  ideas.  The 
City  of  the  Straits  was  holding  out  a  welcome  arm  to  the  new 
comers  from  every  State  of  the  Union.  Dr.  Houghton  was  at 
once  brought  into  close  relation  with  the  principal  and  leading 
men  of  Detroit; — the  invitation  had  come  from  representative 
men.  This  close  association,  whether  professional,  or  in  con- 
nection with  his  scientific  studies,  was  of  signal  service  to  him; 
he  was  not  slow  to  see  these  advantages,  and  his  rapid  advance 
to  the  confidence  of  public  men  was  not  alone  due  to  his  own 
enthusiastic  devotion  to  his  profession  and  to  science,  but 
largely  to  the  discernment  of  men  of  culture  and  attainments 
that  distinguished  the  society  of  Detroit  at  that  period.  It 
has  appeared  to  me  that  the  following  pages  giving  a  few  pen 


APPENDIX.  77 

portraits  of  some  of  these  early  friends  of  Dr.  Houghton 
would  be  welcome  to  those  readers  who  can  only  know  them 
by  tradition : 


GENERAL  LEWIS  CASS. 

When  Dr.  Houghton  first  arrived  at  Detroit,  then  a  very 
young  man,  Gen  Cass  was  governor  of  the  Territory,  to  which 
he  had  been  appointed  as  early  as  1814.  He  was  a  gentleman 
of  unimpeachable  patriotism;  he  was  distinguished  for  gal- 
lantry in  the  war  of  1812.  The  son  of  a  New  Hampshire 
farmer,  he  entertained  a  warm  sympathy  for  the  great  work- 
ing population  of  the  territory.  He  had  earned  a  reputation 
for  literary  culture.  He  felt  a  sincere  respect  for  scientific 
studies.  His  early  career  as  Governor  of  the  vast  region  of 
the  North-western  Territory,  and  the  conspicuous  sagacity  and 
wisdom  shown  throughout  his  long  administration,  made  him 
a  marked  character  of  national  significance.  Gen..  Cass  had 
been  one  of  those  to  invite  young  Houghton  to  come  to 
Detroit  to  give  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  sciences  he  was  cul- 
tivating. The  young  men  who  came  to  Michigan  from  eastern 
States  at  that  early  day  would  bring  letters  to  the  Governor 
or  would  find  ways  to  be  known  to  him.  It  was  the  pleasure, 
as  it  was  always  in  the  power  of  Gen.  Cass,  to  be  of  great 
assistance  to  these  new  comers,  whether  in  business,  in  educa- 
tion, in  the  professions,  or  in  the  cultivation  of  science.  Gen. 
Cass  was  a  good  judge  of  character,  nor  is  it  surprising  that 
the  young  Professor  of  Troy  should  find  a  warm  and  efficient 
friend  in  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  Territory. 

Indeed,  Houghton  was  so  thoroughly  imbued  with  this 
passion  for  science  and  so  absorbed  by  the  ambitious  desire  to 
develop  the  resources  of  the  State,  and  to  make  new  discover- 
ies in  geology,  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  puzzle  ourselves  to 
define  very  exactly  the  complexion  of  his  political  creed.  No 
doubt,  in  all  respects  he  was  a  conservative  in  principle,  as 
his  father  was  before  him.  His  sympathy  for  the  people  at 


78  APPENDIX. 

large  was  very  cordial  and  hearty.  If  we  were  called  on  to 
express  by  a  phrase  his  political  creed,  we  might  say,  he 
would  be  classed  as  a  Democratic  Bepublican,  with  strong 
proclivities  to  an  administration  that  would  secure  the  greatest 
liberty  consistent  with  an  efficient  government,  without 
respect  to  color,  creed  or  race. 


GOVERNOR  STEVENS  T.  MASON. 

Stevens  T.  Mason  was  hardly  twenty- one  years  of  age  when 
he  was  elected  Governor  of  Michigan.  He  was  of  the  Vir- 
ginia family  of  Masons.  He  came  to  Detroit  with  his  father, 
who  was  private  secretary  to  Governor  Porter,  to  which  post 
his  son  in  a  short  time  succeeded.  The  sudden  death  of  the 
Governor,  in  1834,  left  the  Territory  without  a  head  and  the 
young  man  was  thus  Acting  Governor  for  a  few  months.  He 
had  an  active  shrewd  friend  in  the  Hon.  John  IsTorval,  subse- 
quently our  United  States  Senator.  Mr.  Norval  was  a  lawyer 
of  ability  and  experience,  and  would  be  sought  for  in  counsel. 
Mason  was  young,  but  had  been  trained  in  political  ideas  by  a 
Virginia  culture.  His  father  was  known  as  an  astute  business 
man;  his  ancestors  for  many  generations  had  controlled  poli- 
tical opinions,  and  were  patriots  of  the  best  type.  Handsome 
in  person,  Young  Mason  had  all  the  elements  of  a  popular 
favorite.  Frank  and  outspoken  like  those  of  his  race,  genial 
in  manner,  abounding  in  gracious  ways,  beloved  of  his  com- 
panions, but  too  popular  to  be  a  hard  student;  proud  of  a 
Southern  pedigree,  yet  democratic  in  his  intercourse  with  all 
classes.  For  a  young  man,  his  ideas  were  of  commendable 
breadth,  of  high  promise,  of  inflexible  honesty;  he  was  ardent 
and  ambitious  to  distinguish  himself.  Appreciative  of  great 
qualities,  and  warm  in  his  attachments,  he  cultivated  the 
friendship  of  Dr.  Houghton.  He  sympathized  earnestly  in 
the  studies  of  the  young  scientist,  and  the  moment  the  law 
was  passed  creating  the  department  of  the  Geological  Survey, 


APPENDIX.  79 

Dr.  Houghton  was  placed  by  appointment  at  its  head,  as 
the  only  man  in  the  State,  in  truth,  competent  to  fill  that 
position. 


GEN.  SYLVESTER  LARNED. 

The  trying  scenes  of  1832,  the  first  season  of  the  cholera  in 
Detroit,  had  taxed  Dr.  Houghton' s  skill  in  the  treatment  of 
this  fatal  malady.  In  the  meantime  his  practice  as  physician 
was  large  and  his  reputation  growing.  This  oriental  scourge, 
which  reached  us  in  a  mild  form  in  '32,  became  fearful  in  '34. 
Among  the  early  victims  of  the  cholera  which  desolated 
Detroit  in  this  season  of  dismay,  was  Gen.  Sylvester  Lamed. 
The  General  was  well  known  to  the  citizens  of  Detroit  and  of 
the  State.  A  gentleman  of  noble  and  gracious  bearing,  a 
lawyer  of  distinction,  in  the  prime  of  life  and  of  health, 
universally  respected  and  beloved,  his  sudden  death  gave  a 
shock  to  the  community.  At  the  last  stage  of  his  sufferings 
Dr.  Houghton  had  been  called  in  at  the  special  request  of  the 
patient;  but  he  was  fast  sinking. 

Dr.  Houghton  sat  by  his  bedside  all  night  and  watched 
every  pulsation  with  profound  solicitude,  to  discover  some 
favorable  symptom,  some  gleam  of  hope.  Gen.  Lamed 
retained  his  mental  faculties  up  to  the  last  moment.  He  met 
the  inevitable  fate  with  the  calmness  of  a  man  at  peace  with 
all  the  world.  He  took  Dr.  Houghton  by  the  hand  and  said 
he  was  satisfied  that  everything  that  science  and  skill  could 
do  had  been  done,  and  thanked  him  for  his  attentions,  fidelity 
and  sympathy.  These  were  his  last  words.  Not  indeed  that 
Dr.  Houghton  would  be  more  faithful  to  duty  than  others  of 
his  profession  in  that  trying  season,  but  he  was  young  and 
ardent,  of  more  than  usual  gifts,  and  sympathized  warmly 
with  the  sufferings  of  both  rich  and  poor. 

As  in  the  investigations  of  science,  so  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  he  could  vary  old  or  prescribed  methods.  As 
a  physician  in  large  practice  his  success  was  great,  uniting 


80  APPENDIX. 

with  his  skill  and  knowledge  the  tender  regard  and  care  of  a 
Mend;  the  sound  of  his  voice  would  cheer  the  desponding 
patient,  and  do  as  much  for  him  as  medicine. 


DR.  ZINA  PITCHER. 

There  have  been  but  few  men  in  Michigan  who  have  so 
identified  themselves  with  the  educational  interests  of  the 
State  as  Dr.  Zina  Pitcher,  a  gentleman  well  advanced  in  years 
when  young  Houghton  first  cast  his  lines  here.  Dr.  Pitcher 
was  a  brother  of  the  former  Lieutenant- Governor  of  New  York. 
He  was  a  man  of  enlarged  culture,  was  well  read  in  the  science 
of  medicine,  was  qualified  to  lecture  on  many  questions  of 
natural  science.  He  attached  himself  very  strongly  to  the 
young  geologist,  who  was  destined  to  leave  the  impress  of  his 
character  so  deeply  engraved  on  the  records  of  Michigan. 
Dr.  Pitcher  at  one  time  was  president  of  the  Medical  Society 
of  the  United  States,  and  had  received  the  appointment  of 
Eegent  of  the  University.  He  was  familiar  with  the  ideas  of 
advanced  educators  in  all  the  States  and  in  Europe.  He  was 
accustomed  to  mingle  with  men  connected  with  government 
and  with  science. 

His  studies  in  natural  science  were  not  unworthy  a  man 
of  liberal  views.  He  took  a  high  stand  in  the  cause  of 
schools,  of  academic  and  collegiate  culture.  No  man  in  the 
State  exercised  a  more  wholesome  influence  on  the  opinions 
and  the  actions  of  public  men,  and  in  all  systems  of  education 
or  of  charity. 

He  was  a  man  of  staid  and  distinguished  manners,  reserved 
and  slow  of  speech.  His  thoughts  came  slow,  and  his  manner 
was  at  first  apparently  cold.  But  this  was  the  disguise,  per- 
haps, of  sensibility  and  warmth.  Young  Houghton,  of  a 
nervous  and  impetuous  temperament,  was  the  reverse  of  all 
this.  His  ardor  was  without  disguise,  and  his  ideas  so  rapid 
and  so  solicitous  for  expression,  that  they  hardly  found  words 
fast  enough.  But  on  the  principle,  perhaps,  that  opposite 


PEN   PORTRAITS.  81 

natures  are  drawn  toward  each  other,  as  certain  chemical 
elements  under  definite  conditions  will  coalesce,  so  Dr. 
Houghton  was  invited  to  become  a  partner  in  the  firm  of 
"  Pitcher  &  Rice,  surgeons  and  physicians.'7  In  all  of 
Hough  ton's  scientific  studies  he  had  a  cordial  and  able  Mend 
and  coadjutor  in  Dr.  Pitcher. 

Zina  Pitcher  had  been  at  the  Scientific  School  at  Troy  at 
the  same  time  with  Houghton,  and  the  friendship  and  admira- 
tion he  there  felt  for  the  young  scientist,  never  for  a  moment 
abated. 


HENRY  NELSON  WALKER. 

It  is  not  with  a  view  of  eulogy  that  we  call  to  mind  the 
early  associates  of  Dr.  Houghton,  especially  those  who 
sympathized  with  him  in  his  studies  or  aided  him  in  his 
labors  Among  these  intimate  friends  we  must  not  omit  the 
name  of  Henry  N.  Walker.  They  were  boys  together  in 
Fredonia,  New  York,  and  young  Walker  soon  followed  his 
school  companion  to  Detroit,  where  he  pursued  his  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  Chancellor  Elon  Parnsworth.  A  friend- 
ship beginning  in  the  first  bud  and  bloom  of  life  had  been 
kept  warm  and  fresh  up  to  the  death  of  Houghton,  in  '45.  A 
self  made  man,  like  all  men  who  are  made  of  any  value,  Mr. 
Walker  has  occupied  various  positions  of  trust  and  respon- 
sibility in  the  State  of  Michigan. 

A  lawyer  in  successful  practice,  at  one  time  Attorney- 
General  of  the  State,  as  editor  and  proprietor  of  a  daily 
journal  of  commanding  influence,  as  vice-president  of  a  bank, 
and  president  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  railroad,  he  has 
not  occupied  a  place  that  he  was  not  in  every  sense  competent 
to  fill.  His  name  will  live  in  the  history  of  the  State  as  long 
as  integrity  and  force  of  character  shall  be  respected. 
Walker  belonged  to  the  Houghton  School  of  Young  Men,  and 
throughout  all  the  labors  of  the  Geologist  he  found  in  him  a 
tried  friend  in  sympathy  and  counsel.  It  is  to  such  men  as 

(6) 


82  APPENDIX. 

H.  K  Walker,  Douglass  Houghton,  Franklin  Sawyer  and 
John  D.  Pierce  that  the  University  is  largely  indebted  for 
services  and  for  many  gifts. 

This  can  be  said  of  but  few  young  men  who,  beginning  life 
with  no  means  save  their  own  genius  and  purpose,  have 
become  benefactors  to  public  institutions  before  even  their 
own  fortunes  had  been  assured.  The  beautiful  transit  instru- 
ment attached  to  the  observatory  at  Ann  Arbor  is  a  gift  from 
the  Hon.  H.  1ST.  Walker,  at  a  cost  of  not  less  than  $4,000. 
At  this  time  no  other  man  of  the  State  had  bestowed  a  gift  on 
this  State  University  so  munificent.  Mr.  Walker's  death 
has  occurred  while  we  are  writing  the  closing  pages  of  this 
memoir  of  his  early  associate. 


HENRY  E.  SCHOOLCRAFT. 

The  name  of  Schoolcraft  has  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 
early  history  of  Michigan.  His  "Algic  Eesearches,"  his 
"  Discovery  of  the  Sources  of  the  Mississippi,"  and  other  well 
known  works  of  a  scientific  nature,  or  relating  to  Indian 
dialects  and  customs,  have  made  him  known  in  every  civilized 
land.  He  came  to  Michigan  as  early  as  1828.  He  married  a 
grand  daughter  of  a  Chippewa  chief,  and  resided  much  of  his 
time  on  the  Island  of  Macinac  or  at  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  He 
had  received  the  appointment  of  Indian  Agent,  an  agency 
that  embraced  a  large  extent  of  territory.  He  was  familiar 
with  many  Indian  tongues,  and  had  investigated  the  princi- 
ples of  their  various  tribal  dialects.  The  expedition  to  the 
sources  of  the  Mississippi  was  organized  by  Schoolcraft,  and 
was  accomplished  in  1832.  Dr.  Houghton,  a  young  gifted 
scientist  just  settled  in  Detroit,  but  with  the  reputation 
already  established  of  rare  attainments,  was  appointed  sur- 
geon and  botanist  to  this  expedition,  and  the  report  he  made 
of  the  flora  of  the  region  he  traversed  displayed  the  accuracy 
of  a  trained  observer.  It  seems  proper  to  mention  Mr. 
Schoolcraft  here,  because  Dr.  Houghton  was  thus  intimately 


PEN   PORTRAITS.  83 

associated  with  him,  and  because  he  was  one  of  the  ripe 
scholars  in  the  territory  who  would  appreciate  the  superior 
attainments  of  Houghton,  as  he  was  himself  a  distinguished 
scientist  with  a  national  reputation.  In  questions  of  Indian 
ethnology  and  the  lingual  peculiarities  of  the  nomadic  races  of 
North  America,  there  is  no  higher  authority  than  Henry  E. 
Schoolcraft.  He  was  an  ambitious  author,  with  great  confi- 
dence in  his  opinions;  certainly  a  deep  scholar  in  Indian 
antiquities,  ingenious  in  his  theories,  with  abundance  of 
words  and  roots  to  sustain  his  views  as  to  the  similarity  or 
diversity  of  races;  a  man  of  untiring  devotion  and  industry, 
and  voluminous  in  his  publications. 

To  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  in  concert  with  Dr.  Houghton  and 
Maj.  Henry  Whiting,  the  State  owes  the  Indian  names  that 
have  been  adopted  for  most  of  the  northern  counties. 


MAJOR  HENRY  WHITING,  U.  S.  A. 

It  is  with  peculiar  pleasure  that  we  connect  this  name 
with  Dr.  Houghton.  In  the  early  days  of  Detroit  few  names 
were  more  conspicuous.  In  1834  Col.  Whiting  had  already 
been  settled  in  the  city  for  several  years.  He  was  quarter- 
master in  the  U.  S.  army;  he  was  well  and  liberally  educated. 
His  culture  was  kept  fresh  by  the  habits  of  a  student;  his 
reading  was  extensive.  He  was  a  polished  writer  and  a 
ready  debater.  He  would  often^  take  part  in  the  discussions 
before  the  Young  Men's  Society,  and  the  Major  did  not  dis- 
dain to  pay  homage  to  the  muse  of  Poetry,  and  he  wrote  with 
grace  and  facility.  He  was  the  author  of  two  published  vol- 
umes of  poems.  Though  more  given  to  the  amenities  of  litera- 
ture, he  was  interested  in  questions  of  natural  science.  He 
had  read  several  papers  before  the  Historical  Society,  relating 
to  the  climate  and  waters  of  the  upper  lakes.  These  are  pub- 
lished in  a  small  volume,  including  discourses  by  Gen.  Cass, 
Schoolcraft,  and  Maj.  John  Biddle.  His  studies,  in  fact, 


84  APPENDIX. 

would  lead  him  to  sympathize  with  the  pursuits  of  Dr. 
Houghton,  and  he  did  not  fail  to  cultivate  his  acquaintance, 
and  become  an  earnest  and  appreciative  friend  of  the  future 
Geologist.  Mrs.  Col.  Whiting  was  a  niece  of  Major- General 
McComb,  a  general  of  the  national  forces.  She  was  a  lady 
most  interesting  and  lovely  in  person  and  manners,  and  she 
knew  how  to  make  her  house  the  resort  of  the  best  people  in 
the  city,  and  the  young  persons  who  were  desirous  to  improve 
their  manners  or  cultivate  conversational  powers  would  be 
found  at  her  house.  Maj.  Whiting  had  taken  the  precaution 
to  study  law  during  his  spare  moments,  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  at  the  bar  at  Detroit.  In  this  he  was  governed  by  a 
wise  forethought,  that  he  might  wish  at  some  future  time  to 
retire  from  the  army,  and  would  thus  have  a  profession  to  fall 
back  on. 

Major  Whiting  was  a  rare  example  of  an  army  officer 
rising  out  of  and  above  the  mere  routine  of  a  martinet,  sym- 
pathizing earnestly  but  temperately  with  the  new  ideas 
involved  in  science  and  government.  Handsome  in  person, 
tall  and  imposing  in  figure,  of  gracious  and  winning  manners, 
his  sympathies  were  quick  and  warm.  At  Lundy's  Lane, 
more  than  twenty  years  before,  under  Gen.  Scott,  he  had  seen 
service,  and  was  in  the  midst  of  a  sharp  conflict;  brave  and 
gentle  as  a  true  chevalier  of  the  olden  times.  To  know  him 
and  Mrs.  Whiting  was  a  passport  to  every  house  in  Detroit. 
He  was  a  true  Christian  gentleman,  and  his  commendation 
would  secure  confidence  and  success. 

His  friendships  were  not  lightly  given  nor  hastily  with- 
drawn. It  was  the  countenance  and  friendship  of  such  men 
that  sustained  Dr.  Houghton  throughout  his  brief  and  labor- 
ious career. 


CHAHLES  C.  TROWBRIDGE. 

It  is  remarked  by  the  late  Hon.  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  that  Dr 
Houghton  on  his  first  arrival  at  Detroit,  youthful  and  even 


PEN  PORTRAITS.  85 

boyish  as  he  was  in  appearance,  was  at  once  received  into  the 
best  social  and  intellectual  circles  of  the  city  without  reserve. 
He  took  his  place  as  one  "to  the  manner  born,7'  as  he  was, 
indeed,  in  all  respects;  and  it  may  be  added  in  regard  to  the 
leading  families  who  controlled  the  social  standards  in  those 
early  days,  it  was  a  way  they  had  to  accept  the  new  comer  for 
what  he  was  capable  of  doing,  for  sterling  qualities,  without 
regard  to  family,  station  or  money.  The  days  of  pretense,  if 
they  were  ever  to  reach  Detroit  at  some  future  period,  at  least 
would  be  postponed  for  many  years  to  come.  It  has  been  seen, 
not  only  that  the  young  scientist  was  cordially  welcomed,  but 
that  very  speedily  he  was  recognized  as  a  leader  among  the 
young  men  of  the  city  with  whom  he  associated. 


YOUNG  MEN'S  LITERARY  SOCIETY. 

Already  it  has  been  mentioned  that  the  Young  Men's  Lit- 
erary Society  was  largely  indebted  to  Dr.  Houghton  for  its 
early  organization  in  1832.  In  these  generous  labors  he  was 
united  with  Franklin  Sawyer,  a  young  man  from  Boston,  of 
superior  education  and  rare  natural  gifts;  he  was  the  first 
superintendent  of  public  instruction  in  Michigan.  Dr. 
Houghton  would  insist  that  Sawyer  should  be  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  new  society  thus  formed,  he  taking  the  vice-presi- 
dency. The  second  year,  however,  the  members  elected 
Houghton  as  president.  So  of  other  associations  and  organi- 
zations looking  to  public  improvements,  young  Houghton  was 
among  the  first  to  give  a  helping  hand.  His  young  friend, 
William  N.  Carpenter,  was  associated  with  him  in  the  Sunday 
school  of  the  church  in  which  he  had  been  baptized  as  an 
infant. 

At  the  time  of  his  arrival  at  Detroit  he  would  need  assist- 
ance in  preparing  his  apparatus  for  experiments,  to  illustrate 
his  lectures  on  chemistry;  and  the  Hon.  John  Owen,  then  a 
clerk  in  Dr.  Chapin's  drug  store,  would  lend  a  helping  hand. 


86  APPENDIX. 

Nor  would  young  Owen  resist  altogether  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
youthful  lecturer.  Not  only  were  the  young  men  that  sur- 
rounded Houghton  inspired  by  his  enthusiasm,  but  they 
seemed  often  to  be  inocculated  with  a  passion  for  the  sciences 
that  he  was  cultivating;  nor  would  they  be  insensible  to  the 
sterling  qualities  of  honor,  courtesy  and  probity  that  ever  dis- 
tinguished the  young  scientist,  whose  example  indeed,  was 
destined  to  inspire  and  raise  the  standard  of  culture  of  one 
entire  generation. 

It  was  at  that  period  that  George  0.  Bates,  a  student  at  law 
in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Henry  S.  Cole,  Attorney-General  of 
the  State,  became  a  prominent  character  among  his  ambitious 
companions,  conspicuous  for  grace  of  person  and  for  style  of 
public  speaking  quite  irresistable  to  a  popular  audience.  And 
Jacob  M.  Howard,  of  a  logical  cast  of  mind, — a  deep  student, 
made  himself  felt  in  our  discussions,  and  gave  promise  for 
that  distinction  in  a  larger  field,  which  in  a  few  years  after  he 
won  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

We  might  go  on  and  sketch  thus  briefly  these  word  por- 
traits of  many  other  bright  ambitious  companions  of  young 
Houghton,  but  shall  be  obliged  to  restrain  our  pen,  and  con- 
fine it  to  a  simple  mention  of  some  of  these  leading  young 
men,  many  of  whom  have  been  heard  of  in  the  years  that 
have  followed. 

John  Talbot,  of  scholarly  tastes,  Morgan  L.  Martin,  Henry 
Stringham,  Lieut.  Senter,  H.  N.  Walker,  Alexander  Buell, 
Silas  Douglass,  Henry  G.  Hubbard,  Franklin  Sawyer,  Henry 
Penney,  Peter  E.  DeMill,  George  Eeed,  A.  S.  Williams,  E.  N. 
Wilcox,  James  V.  Campbell,  Samuel  Douglass,  George  E. 
Hand,  Stevens  T.  Mason,  Marshall  J.  Bacon,  Isaac  Roland, 
George  C.  Bates,  H.  H.  Emmons,  Levi  Bishop,  Col.  A.  T. 
McEeynolds,  D.  B.  Duffield,  Bela  Hubbard,  J.  W.  Waterman, 
Alvah  Bradish,  and  others. 

Most  of  these  young  men  were  brought  into  close  relation 
with  Dr.  Houghton,  either  in  business,  in  connection  with  the 
institutions  of  the  State,  or  in  the  charities  of  the  city.  No 
doubt  we  have  omitted  many  names  that  should  belong  to  this 


PEN  PORTRAITS.  87 

group.  But  of  the  younger  class,  these  will  include  the 
largest  portion  of  the  companions  of  Houghton  from  the  period 
of  his  arrival  in  Detroit,  in  1831,  up  to  the  time  of  the  relin- 
quishing his  professional  labors  for  the  geological  survey  of 
the  State. 

It  should  be  stated  that  most  of  these  young  men  were 
early  members  of  the  Young  Men's  Literary  Society,  of  Detroit. 

It  is  not  unsuitable  to  say,  too,  that  there  never  has  been  a 
literary  society  established  in  any  of  the  new  States  that  has 
exercised  a  more  wide-spread  and  solid  influence  on  intellec- 
tual and  aesthetical  culture  than  this  Young  Men's  Society,  of 
Detroit. 

Indeed,  there  are  but  few  men  of  mark  in  Michigan,  who, 
beginning  their  career  in  Detroit,  have  not  felt  and  acknow- 
ledged its  influence.  Most  of  these  have  taken  an  active  part, 
either  by  lectures  or  debates,  or  as  efficient  officials,  sustaining 
its  credit  and  activity  with  untiring  zeal  and  patriotic  devo- 
tion. If  such  a  spirit  as  this  -that  animated  the  founders  of 
the  Young  Men's  Society,  of  Detroit,  could  continue  to  preside 
over  the  conduct  of  a  literary  society,  there  is  no  good  reason 
why  its  prosperity  should  not  be  perpetual. 


88  APPENDIX. 


PAET  II. 


STATEMENTS  REGARDING  THE  DEATH  OF  DR.  HOUGHTON. 

The  following  remarks  are  from  the  "  Wolverine,"  a 
paper  published  at  Flint,  Mich.,  dated  1874 : 

No  event  in  its  day  created  more  general  and  painful 
interest  than  the  untimely  fate  of  Douglass  Hough  ton,  cut  off 
in  the  very  prime  of  his  manhood  and  the  midst  of  his  useful- 
ness. No  measure  can  be  placed  upon  what  Michigan  owes 
him  for  the  results  of  his  early  discovery  and  promulgation  of 
the  vastness  and  variety  of  her  mineral  wealth.  His  name 
was  famous  in  both  hemispheres,  and  his  memory  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  him.  But  a  generation  of  men  have  passed  off 
the  stage  since  the  crested  waves  of  Lake  Superior  chanted 
their  murmuring  requiem  over  the  remains  of  the  dis- 
tinguished scholar  whom  they  held  in  their  cold  embrace,  and 
a  proposition  being  now  before  the  Legislature  to  obtain  for 
the  new  State  Capitol  Professor  Bradish's  fall  length  portrait 
of  Dr.  Houghton,  it  has  become  a  fitting  time  to  revive  some 
of  the  incidents  connected  with  the  loss  of  a  man  to  whose 
scientific  learning,  indefatigable  industry  and  fearless  explora- 


DEATH   OF   DR.    HOUGHTON.  89 

tion  in   pursuit  of  knowledge,  not  alone  Michigan,  but  the 
whole  United  States  are  so  largely  indebted. 

Dr.  Douglass  Houghton  was  appointed  State  Geologist  in 
1838  by  Stevens  T.  Mason,  the  first  governor  of  the  State  of 
Michigan.  He  commenced  his  professional  work  at  once. 

In  1844,  while  making  the  geological  survey  of  our  upper 
peninsula,  he  discovered,  first  the  large  deposits  of  iron  ore 
in  Marquette  county,  and  afterwards  the  copper  in  what  was 
then  known  as  Keeweenaw  district,  now  embracing  the 
counties  of  Keeweenaw,  Houghton  and  Ontonagon.  When 
his  report  was  first  published  his  statements  were  attacked  by 
the  celebrated  Prof.  Silliman  in  his  journal,  and  also  by  the 
leading  geological  savants  of  Europe.  It  required  but  two 
years  working  of  the  mines  to  satisfy  the  world  that  the 
'field  geologist'  of  Michigan  was  right,  and  that  some  of  the 
theories  of  parlor  geology,  however  much  they  might  be 
respected  for  their  learning,  must  yield  to  the  crucible  test  of 
actual  demonstration. 

The  portrait,  which  it  is  proposed  shall  be  purchased  by 
the  State,  has  been  executed  by  Prof.  A.  Bradish,  an  artist  of 
celebrity.  It  represents  Dr.  Houghton  standing  on  the  rocks 
close  to  the  water's  edge,  with  the  pictured  rocks  forming  the 
background.  He  is  dressed  in  the  free  out- door  costume  of  a 
working  geologist,  with  his  hammer  in  hand,  his  favorite 
black  and  white  spaniel  is  standing  by,  partly  in  the  water. 
The  expanse  of  the  entire  of  Lake  Superior  stretches  off  to 
the  horizon,  an  archway  of  broken  rock  shelving  down  to  the 
water,  in  the  distance  cascades,  etc.,  fill  up  the  picture.  The 
likeness  is  said  to  be  an  excellent  one.  Petitions  to  the 
Legislature  to  purchase  this  portrait  have  been  presented  from 
some  of  the  most  prominent  men  and  judges  of  art  of  our 
State,  and  referred  to  a  select  committee  appointed  to  report 
upon  the  propriety  of  securing  it  for  the  State. 


90  APPENDIX. 

As  a  matter  of  interest  to  our  readers,  we  republish  from 
the  Detroit  "Free  Press"  of  Oct.  28,  1845,  the  following 
recital  of  the  melancholy  circumstances  attending  the  death  of 
Dr.  Houghton,  made  to  the  Hon.  Lucius  Lyon,  by  our  fellow- 
townsman,  Col.  E.  H.  Thompson,  who  was  near  the  spot  when 
the  accident  occurred: 

LETTER  OF  HON.  E.  H.  THOMPSON. 

FORT  WILKINS,  Lake  Superior,  October  21,  1845. 

To  THE  HON.  Lucius  LYON, 

Survey  or -General,  of  Detroit: 

MY  DEAR  SIR: — 

Enclosed  herewith  I  forward  a  statement  of  facts  connected 
with  the  unfortunate  end  of  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton,  as  given 
by  the  survivors  of  the  melancholy  catastrophy,  Peter  Mc- 
Farline,  his  true  and  trusty  voyager  by  flood  and  field  for 
many  years,  and  John  Baptiste  Bodrie. 

I  am  aware  that  in  a  district  of  country  duly  organized 
with  the  usual  county  officers,  the  law,  upon  finding  the 
body  of  Tousin  Piquette,  demanded  an'investigation  from  the 
hands  of  a  coroner.  This  course  was  impracticable  without 
removing  all  the  witnesses  to  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  a  distance 
of  more  than  two  hundred  miles,  and  at  this  late  season 
impracticable. 

Thus  situated,  upon  consulting  with  Col.  Gratiot  and 
others,  it  was  considered  as  the  best  and  only  method  of  pro- 
curing the  statement  of  the  two  survivors  in  the  presence  of 
witnesses  to  reduce  it  to  writing,  signed  by  them,  with  the 
certificate  of  those  present  of  its  correctness. 

Upon  this  mode  of  proceeding  I  have  acted  in  reducing 
the  statements  of  McFarline  and  Bodrie,  and  trust  that  we 
shall  meet  with  your  approbation  and  that  of  the  numerous 
friends  of  Dr.  Houghton. 


DEATH   OF    DR.    HOUGHTON.  91 

The  original  is  sent  to  you,  believing  that  through  you  in 
your  official  character,  the  intelligence  should  reach  the  execu- 
tive department  at  Washington,  in  whose  service  he  was 
engaged. 

Amid  the  gloom  surrounding  the  death  of  Dr.  Houghton, 
it  is  a  matter  of  congratulation  to  the  world  of  science,  but 
more  particularly  to  our  own  State,  that  all  his  valuable 
papers  connected  with  the  geology  and  survey  of  the  northern 
peninsula  for  the  last  six  months  are  saved,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  small  book  containing  the  surveys  of  a  fractional 
township  between  Eagle  River  and  the  Portage. 

It  is  indeed  strange  that  out  of  the  many  scientific  men 
and  hundreds  of  others  who  have  coasted  on  the  waters  of  our 
great  inland  sea  during  the  past  season,  only  the  master  spirit 
of  them  all  should  fall. 

The  ways  of  Providence  are  truly  mysterious.  The  labor 
and  toil  of  fifteen  years,  endeavoring  to  penetrate  the  veil 
which  shrouds  from  our  view  many  of  the  mighty  events  that 
preceded  the  history  of  our  race,  and  which  required  only  the 
magic  of  his  pen  and  the  power  of  the  press  to  place  him 
among  the  Humboldts  of  another  sphere,  is  now  lost. 

Our  country,  nay,  the  world  of  science  were  looking  with 
more  than  Argus  eyes  for  his  final  report  of  the  geology  of  the 
northern  peninsula.  Michigan  beheld  his  scientific  talent  and 
moral  worth  with  pride  and  admiration;  but,  alas !  he  has 
tracked  the  steps  of  glory  to  a  watery  grave. 

I  cheerfully  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  to  bear  wit- 
ness to  the  kindness  of  Colonel  Gratiot  and  all  connected  with 
the  mining  works  at  Eagle  Eiver,  in  alleviating  the  sufferings 
of  the  survivors  and  in  administering  to  their  wants,  as  well 
as  to  his  unwearied  and  indefatigable  efforts  in  making  with  a 
sufficient  force  all  possible  exertions,  but  without  success,  to 
find  the  body  of  Dr.  Houghton  or  that  of  his  voyageur,  Oliver 
Larimer. 

I  am, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

E.  H.  THOMPSON. 


92  APPENDIX. 

STATEMENT  OF  Two  or  His  YOYAGEURS. 

EAGLE  EIVER,  Lake  Superior,  Oct.  14,  1845. 

Statements  of  facts  connected  with  the  drowning  of  Dr. 
Douglass  Houghton,  Geologist  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  and 
two  of  his  men,  Tousin  Piquette  and  Oliver  Larimer,  near 
Eagle  River,  on  the  night  of  the  13th  of  October,  A.  D.  1845, 
as  related  by  Peter  McFarline  and  John  Baptiste  Bodrie, 
survivors : 

Dr.  Houghton  camped  on  the  night  of  the  12th  of  October, 
at  Eagle  Harbor;  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  he  started  in  his 
boat  with  the  undersigned  acting  as  voyageurs,  with  three  bar- 
rels of  flour,  a  bag  of  peas,  a  small  quantity  of  pork,  tent  and 
bedding,  and  a  traveling  portfolio,  for  Eagle  Eiver,  a  distance 
of  eight  miles  to  the  westward.  On  arriving  at  Eagle  Eiver 
they  there  took  in  some  additional  clothing  for  the  surveying- 
party  and  proceeded  five  miles  still  farther  west  to  the  store 
house  of  Hassey  and  Avery;  they  arrived  there  at  noon  and 
immediately  commenced  unloading  the  boat;  after  waiting 
some  time,  the  miners  at  work  on  the  location  of  Messrs. 
Hassey  and  Avery,  came  in  to  their  dinner,  and  from  some  of 
them  Dr.  Houghton  procured  the  key  of  the  storehouse  and 
deposited  his  provisions. 

We  all  took  dinner  here,  after  which  we  started  for  Mr. 
Hill's  surveying  party,  a  distance  of  three  miles  on  the  lake 
coast.  Dr.  Houghton  and  McFarline  then  started  into  the 
woods  on  the  line,  and  not  finding  Mr.  Hill,  he  returned  to 
the  boat  and  found  by  the  arrival  of  Tousin  Piquette  and 
Oliver  Larimer  that  Mr.  Hill  and  his  men  were  two  miles 
still  further  up  the  lake. 

Dr.  Houghton  then  started  in  his  boat  in  pursuit  of  Mr. 
Hill  with  the  undersigned,  Tousin  Piquette  and  Oliver  Lari- 
mer; we  met  Mr.  Hill  and  his  party  about  sun  down,  and 
after  remaining  nearly  an  hour  and  transacting  some  business, 
we  then  put  back  with  the  same  persons  for  the  purpose  of 
reaching  Eagle  Eiver  that  night.  We  had  nothing  in  the 
boat  but  some  bedding  and  the  portfolio;  at  the  time  of  leaving 


DEATH   OF   DK.    HOUGHTON.  93 

there  was  a  gentle  land  breeze  and  a  heavy  sea  from  the  out- 
side. Dr.  Houghton  took  his  usual  seat  in  the  stern  as  steers- 
man, while  four  of  us  rowed  the  boat.  On  arriving  opposite 
the  Hassey  location,  McFarline  asked  Dr.  Houghton  if  he  was 
going  to  stop.  Dr.  Houghton  replied,  "No,  for  if  I  do  not 
get  to  Eagle  Eiver  to-night,  Oliver  will  lose  his  passage  down 
the  lake."  McFarline  then  stated  to  Dr.  Houghton,  that  he 
was  afraid  that  it  was  going  to  blow.  Dr.  Houghton  said, 
"No,  I  guess  not;  a  land  breeze  can't  hurt  us."  By  this  time 
we  were  opposite  the  store  house  of  Hassey  and  Avery. 
McFarline  then  told  Dr.  Houghton  that  he  must  go  ashore  at 
the  warehouse  as  Oliver's  baggage  was  at  that  place.  At  this 
we  put  into  the  landing,  and  after  getting  the  baggage  we 
then  stood  for  Eagle  Eiver. 

The  wind  was  about  the  same  as  when  we  left  Mr.  Hill, 
except  that  it  commenced  snowing  a  little  and  growing  dark; 
after  rowing  nearly  three  miles  we  found  ourselves  opposite  a 
place  called  the  Sand  Beach.  At  this  place  the  wind  changed 
and  commenced  blowing  from  the  northeast  and  snowing 
faster.  In  a  short  time  we  encountered  a  heavy  sea  caused  by 
a  reef  projecting  into  the  lake  about  a  mile  and  a  half. 
McFarline  then  asked  Dr.  Houghton  to  go  ashore  at  the  Sand 
Beach.  Dr.  Houghton  replied,  "  We  had  better  keep  on — 
we  are  not  far  from  Eagle  Eiver,  pull  away,  boys,  pull  hard." 
At  this,  Bodrie  spoke  in  the  French  language  to  McFarline, 
and  said,  "  We  had  better  go  ashore."  Dr.  Houghton  imme- 
diately inquired  of  McFarline,  "What  did  Bodrie  say?" 
McFarline  told  him,  when  Dr.  Houghton  replied,  "We  had 
better  go  to  Eagle  Eiver  to-night  as  we  shall  there  have  a  new 
log  house  to  dry  us  in."  The  wind  and  snow  kept  increasing, 
and  after  rowing  some  time,  Dr.  Houghton  remarked  once  or 
twice,  "  Pull  away,  my  boys,  we  shall  soon  be  in,  pull  away," 
and  encouraged  us  by  similar  expressions.  We  commenced 
shipping  water  and  made  but  little  progress.  After  knocking 
and  rolling  about  among  the  breakers  for  over  an  hour  and 
storming  all  the  time,  McFarline  bailed  the  boat  out  and 
advised  Dr.  Houghton  to  put  on  his  life  preserver.  The  bag 


94  APPENDIX. 

containing  it  was  handed  to  him,  he  placed  it  at  his  side; 
instantly  a  heavy  sea  struck  the  boat  and  filled  it. 

Dr.  Houghton  then  proposed  going  ashore.  McFarline 
told  him  he  could  not  land;  that  the  coast  opposite  them  was 
all  rocks.  Dr.  Houghton  immediately  put  the  boat  about, 
saying,  uWe  must  go  ashore;  we  can  do- nothing  here." 
Within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  shore,  they  shipped  another 
sea  which  was  followed  by  a  larger  billow,  and  the  boat  cap- 
sized with  all  hands  under  her. 

McFarline  was  the  first  person  from  beneath,  and  upon 
rising  to  the  top  of  the  water,  caught  hold  of  the  keel  of  the 
boat  at  the  stern.  Upon  looking  round,  he  saw  a  man's  arm 
about  half  way  out  of  the  water.  He  instantly  lowered  him- 
self and  caught  the  man  by  the  collar  of  his  coat,  and  upon 
bringing  him  up,  it  was  Dr.  Houghton,  who  recognized  him. 
McFarline  told  him  to  take  off  his  gloves  and  to  hold  on  to 
the  keel  of  the  boat.  The  advice  was  followed.  McFarline 
still  preserving  his  hold. 

Dr.  Houghton  then  remarked,  "  Peter,  never  mind  me, 
try  to  go  ashore  if  you  can;  I  will  go  ashore  well  enough." 
Instantly  a  heavy  sea  struck  the  boat,  throwing  it  perpen- 
dicularly into  the  air.  It  fell  over  backwards,  and  Dr. 
Houghton  disappeared  forever. 

McFarline  regained  the  boat,  and  upon  getting  in,  dis- 
covered for  the  first  time  one  of  his  companions,  Bodrie,  in 
the  water  and  clinging  to  the  bow.  In  this  position  they 
both  remained  some  fifteen  minutes,  but  saw  nothing  more  of 
their  companions.  A  sea  washed  them  out  again.  McFarline 
drifted  towards  the  rocks  and  got  a  loose  hold.  In  a  moment 
he  was  washed  off  and  being  carried  to  and  fro  against  the 
rocks  some  three  times.  The  fourth  wave  landed  him  on  the 
top  of  a  ledge  of  rocks,  and  by  clinging  to  a  crack  or  fissure 
in  the  rock,  and  getting  hold  of  a  small  bush  he  succeeded  in 
saving  himself. 

After  landing  he  looked  around  him  and  could  see  nothing 
but  the  boat  filled  with  water  and  the  bedding  floating.  Soon 
he  heard  a  voice  among  the  rocks,  asking  in  the  French 


DEATH   OF  DR.    HOUGHTON.  95 

language,  ' ' Who  is  that f '  McFarline  replied,  "It  is  me, 
Peter."  The  rescued  man  was  Bodrie.  We  commenced 
looking  about  in  every  direction  and  hollowing,  but  heard  no 
answer.  We  continued  examining  until  we  found  ourselves 
growing  chilly  and  stiff,  when  Bodrie  remarked,  "Well,  we 
have  lost  our  brothers;  it  may  be  that  one  of  us  will  get  to 
Eagle  Eiver  to  tell  their  fate.'7 

We  started,  and  on  the  way  down  McFarline  fell  several 
times  from  exhaustion  and  cold.  Bodrie  roused  his  com 
panioii  up,  and  finally  succeeded  in  reaching  Eagle  Eiver 
between  the  hours  of  eleven  and  twelve  at  night.  We  told 
what  had  happened,  and  within  an  hour  the  entire  coast  was 
lined  in  search  for  the  bodies,  by  miners  and  others  who  were 
near  at  hand. 

(Signed)  PETEE  McFAELINE, 

BAPTISTE  BODEIE. 

EAGLE  EIVER,  Lake  Superior,  Oct.  14,  1845. 

We  do  hereby  certify  that  we  were  severally  present  when 
the  above  named  Peter  McFarline  and  John  Baptiste  Bodrie 
gave  in  their  statements  of  the  melancholy  occurrence  of  the 
death  of  Dr.  Houghton  and  two  of  his  men  on  the  night  of  the 
13th  inst.,  by  drowning,  and  that  the  above  is  a  correct  state- 
ment as  given  by  them. 

E.  H.  THOMPSON,  Michigan, 

C.  H.  GEATIOT,  Eagle  Eiver, 

J.  HOUGHTON,  JR.,  Detroit,  Mich.. 

J.  T.  WHITING,  Eagle  Eiver, 

JOHN  HAWKS,  M.  D.,  Eochester,  N.  Y., 

ALGEENON   MEEEYWEATHEE,    Mich. 

BELA  HUBBAED,  Detroit. 


In  the  spring  of  1846  the  remains  of  Dr.  Houghton  were 
found  not  far  from  the  scene  of  the  disaster  in  the  previous 
October.  They  were  half  covered  with  sand,  but  easily 


96  APPENDIX. 

identified.  They  were  interred  in  Elmwood  cemetery, 
Detroit,  now  covered  by  the  monument  raised  to  his  memory 
by  Mrs.  Houghton. 

The  night  of  Houghton' s  death  and  the  day  following,  the 
snow  that  had  commenced  at  dusk  fell  to  the  depth  of  three 
feet. 


BESOLUTIONS  or  THE  COMMON  COUNCIL  OF  DETROIT. 

CITY  CLERK'S  OFFICE,  DETROIT,  Nov.  27,  1845. 

At  a  special  session  of  the  common  council  of  the  City  of 
Detroit,  held  Wednesday,  Oct.,  29,  1845,  the  following 
preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted: 

WHEREAS,  The  lamentable  intelligence  has  reached  us 
that  our  late  esteemed  fellow  townsman,  Dr.  Douglass  Hough- 
ton,  has  met  with  a  sudden  death  on  the  waters  of  Lake 
Superior; 

AND  WHEREAS,  The  relation  which  the  deceased  so  lately 
sustained  with  us  as  mayor  of  the  city  and  ex-officio  president 
of  this  board,  renders  an  expression  of  respect  and  regret 
proper  on  behalf  of  this  council  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  common  council  of  the 
city  of  Detroit,  cherish  the  most  profound  respect  for  the 
memory  of  the  deceased,  and  deeply  deplore  the  mournful 
event  which  has  deprived  this  State  of  a  man  whose  talents, 
acquirements  and  services  have  adorned  her  history  and 
promised  still  more  to  enrich  her  annals,  which  has  deprived 
this  city  of  a  valued,  esteemed  and  most  useful  citizen,  society 
of  an  amiable,  interesting  and  beloved  member,  and  his 
family  of  an  affectionate  and  devoted  head; 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  our  sincere  condolence  to  his 
afflicted  family  upon  the  occasion  of  their  sad  bereavement; 

Resolved,  That  as  a  further  mark  of  respect,  his  honor,  the 
mayor,  be  requested  to  call  a  public  meeting  of  our  fellow- 
citizens  to  be  held  to-morrow  evening  at  7  o'clock  at  the  city 
'hall; 


CENOTAPH.  97 

Resolved,  That  this  expression  of  our  feeling  be  entered  on 
our  records,  that  a  copy  be  furnished  the  family  of  the 
deceased  and  published  in  our  proceedings  in  the  papers  of 
the  city. 

EGBERT  E.  ROBERTS, 

Clerk. 


THE  CENOTAPH  AT  ANN  ARBOR. 

In  the  beautiful  University  grounds  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich., 
has  been  erected  a  square  monument  of  lime  stone,  designed 
for  four  tablets,  and  surmounted  by  a  broken  column.  Two 
of  the  sides  are  already  occupied  by  white  marble  tablets  to 
the  memory  of  Professors  Whiting  and  Houghton.  The  one 
to  Dr.  Houghton  bears  the  following  inscription: 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 

DOUGLASS    HOUGHTON,  M.  D., 

PROFESSOR    OF    CHEMISTRY,    MINERALOGY    AND    GEOLOGY    IN   THIS 

UNIVERSITY,  AND  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEYOR 

GENERAL 

IN    THIS    STATE. 

IN   SCIENCE   LEARNED,  IN  ACTION   PROMPT,  WHILE   BOLDLY    ENGAGED  TN 

PUBLIC     DUTY,    BY     THE    OVERTURNING    OF    A    BOAT    IN    LAKE 

SUPERIOR,  HE   PERISHED.      SINKING,  NEVER,  ALAS  !   TO 

BE     SEEN    AGAIN    UNTIL    "THE    SEA    GIVE 

UP    THE    DEAD." 

OCTOBER  13,  1845, 
Aged  36. 

THE    TRUSTEES    OF    THE   UNIVERSITY    OF    MICHIGAN    THIS  STONE   HAVE 
TAKEN    CARE    TO    PLACE. 

(7) 


98  APPENDIX. 


PAKT   III. 


THE  HOUGHTON  PORTRAIT. 

As  early  as  1834  Mr.  Alvah  Bradish  was  a  resident  citizen 
of  Detroit,  a  young  man  and  an  artist,  closely  associated  with 
Dr.  Houghton,  and  on  intimate  terms  with  his  family. 

He  had  unusual  facilities  for  the  study  of  his  countenance 
and  his  person.  The  portrait  he  painted  from  life  has  always 
been  considered  an  excellent  likeness  of  Dr.  Houghton.  It  is, 
indeed,  the  only  portrait  in  oil  that  he  ever  sat  for.  This  was 
before  the  days  of  the  daguerrtype  or  the  photograph. 

With  this  original  portrait  before  him,  and  with  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  Dr.  Houghton' s  person,  the  artist  has  designed 
a  full  length  portrait,  standing  at  the  water's  edge,  with  the 
pictured  rocks  of  Lake  Superior  forming  a  back  ground.  It 
has  been  widely  seen  and  approved  by  all  who  knew  Dr. 
Houghton. 

It  was  offered  to  the  legislature  of  Michigan  for  purchase; 
a  bill  for  its  purchase  was  brought  before  the  legislature  in 
1879.  Prof.  Bradish  was  in  the  capitol  by  invitation  of  Gov. 
Croswell,  and  all  the  members  of  the  two  houses  had  visited 
his  room.  Besides  the  full  length  of  Dr.  Houghton,  a  full 
length  of  Dr.  Henry  P.  Tappan,  first  president  of  the  Uni- 
versity, was  on  exhibition;  also  a  full  length  portrait  of  that 
eminent  statesman,  the  Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  so  long  governor  of 
Michigan  while  a  territory;  besides  other  distinguished 


MEMORIALS.  99 

citizens  of  the  State.  These  large  paintings  were  original 
works  by  Prof.  Bradish. 

During  the  winter  more  than  three  thousand  citizens  had 
visited  the  studio  to  see  these  historical  portraits,  but  mainly, 
it  may  be  said,  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  pioneer  geologist 
of  the  State.  Nearly  one  thousand  petitions  had  been  sent  to 
the  legislature,  coming  from  all  parts  of  the  State,  urging  its 
purchase. 

So  many  years  had  elapsed  since  the  time  of  Houghton's 
death  that  some  hesitation  might  be  looked  for  among  mem- 
bers who  had  yet  to  become  acquainted  with  the  career  of  the 
first  geologist  of  Michigan.  But  so  well  persuaded  were  the 
leading  members  of  the  legislature  of  1879  that  this  recogni- 
tion of  his  services  was  just  and  patriotic,  that  in  the  senate 
there  were  only  one  or  two  votes  adverse,  while  in  the  House 
the  bill  for  purchase  was  passed  by  a  very  large  vote,  the 
members  satisfying  themselves  that  the  memorial  portrait 
offered  by  Prof.  Bradish  had  every  claim  to  authenticity,  and 
that  it  was  a  faithful  representation  of  the  subject  of  this 
memoir. 

The  bill  was  promptly  signed  by  the  governor,  Charles 
Croswell.  It  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  board  of  auditors 
of  this  State,  who  had  been  authorized  by  it  to  purchase  the 
portrait  for  the  State.  It  still  lies  there. 


THE  PROPOSED  MONUMENT. 

If  the  writer  has  shown  excessive  zeal  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  Houghton,  it  should  be  remembered  that  he  is 
among  the  few  now  living  who  knew  him  well,  that  he  is  the 
only  artist  that  ever  painted  him  from  life — it  being  ten  years 
before  the  advent  of  the  photograph — that  most  of  his 
associates  have  passed  away,  and  that  life  is  too  precarious  to 


100  APPENDIX. 

leave  these v  varied  materials  and  records  to  the  arrangement 
and  handling  of  a  stranger. 

For  several  years  past  the  author  has  been  solicitous  in 
obtaining  materials  bearing  on  Houghton's  life  and  services. 
His  zeal  is  warmed  by  the  remembrance  of  his  character,  his 
steady  friendship  and  his  enthusiasm  in  the  cause  of  science, 
in  which  he  lost  his  life. 

The  Michigan  legislature  was  in  session  at  Detroit,  then 
the  capital  of  the  State,  when  the  news  of  the  death  of  Dr. 
Houghton  reached  the  city.  The  loss  was  deemed  a  public 
calamity  by  the  representatives.  A  bill  was  introduced 
expressing  the  general  feeling,  making  an  appropriation  for  a 
monument  to  be  erected  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  near 
Eagle  Eiver. 

But  at  that  time  the  financial  condition  of  the  State  was  so 
depressed  that  it  was  thought  advisable  to  postpone  action 
until  a  later  season,  and  a  sum  more  suitable  and  more  in 
accordance  with  public  sentiment  could  be  secured. 

If  it  is  surprising,  it  is  hardly  creditable,  that  the  monu- 
ment contemplated  by  the  legislature  of  '46  has  not  been 
followed  up  by  some  popular  action.  One  would  expect 
among  the  enterprising  and  intelligent  citizens  of  the  upper 
peninsula  especially,  that  almost  a  spontaneous  expression  in 
this  direction  would  have  been  seen  before  this  date.  At 
Elm  wood  cemetery,  where  Dr.  Houghton's  remains  were 
deposited,  there  is  a  plain  granite  shaft,  erected  by  his  widow, 
that  will  inform  the  passer  by  of  the  last  resting  place  of 
Houghton.  One  of  the  free  schools  of  Detroit  has  received 
his  name,  in  honor  of  one  so  zealous  to  promote  popular 
education.  A  cenotaph,  plain  and  inexpensive,  stands  within 


MEMORIALS.  101 

the  grounds  of  the  University  Campus.  A  name*  that  is  so 
cherished  in  this  State  will  not  perish.  A  few  yearS  hence 
passengers  traversing  the  waters  of  Lake  Supejripi^  fern*  tixo 
deck  of  steamers  will  scan  the  southern  shore  along  the  coast 
near  Eagle  Eiver.  They  will  remember  what  name  has  been 
associated  with  all  this  region,  and  especially  with  the  perils 
of  storm  and  disaster;  they  will  look  for  some  sign  that  the 
memory  of  such  a  man  has  not  been  forgotten.  These 
travelers  may  not  always  be  disappointed.  The  time  is  soon 
to  come  when  they  will  discover  some  monument  booming 
through  the  mist,  perhaps  a  simple  granite  shaft  broken  mid- 
way, as  the  life  of  Houghton  was  shattered  and  broken,  and 
the  story  of  his  marvelous  energy  and  courage  will  be  read  again 
and  again  with  ever  renewed  interest. 

The  good  missionary  Marquette  died  in  the  performance  of 
duty  somewhere  near  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  but  the 
precise  spot  or  the  time  is  not  known.  La  Salle,  the  most 
courageous  and  intrepid  explorer  of  the  great  inland  lakes 
and  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  perished  amid  the  wild 
savannahs  of  lower  Louisiana,  not  a  scientist  but  eager  to  make 
discoveries  and  to  add  new  lands  to  the  rule  of  a  sovereign 
who  could  not  heed  their  importance.  He  fell  by  assassina- 
tion, but  no  one  can  name  the  spot  where  he  perished. 

The  adventurous  explorer  of  Florida,  De  Soto,  stimulated 
by  motives  less  pure  perhaps,  perished  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  was  buried  in  its  waters.  It  may  be 
remembered  that  these  courageous  pioneers  were  in  the  midst 
of  a  race  or  races  of  nomadic  habits,  who  had  no  written 
language,  kept  no  records  and  had  no  history.  There  are 
good  reasons  and  some  apology  for  our  ignorance  of  the  last 


102  >   APPENDIX. 

moments  £nd  final  resting  places  of  these  adventurous  heroes. 

But  there  can  be  no  apology  for  our  indifference  or  neglect  of 

'  •;"-  "     -   •' 

of  those  whose  services  are  conspicuous,  whose 


persons  are  remembered,  whose  labors  have  enriched  the 
State,  and  whose  fame  is  a  part  of  the  inheritance  of  the 
present  generation  of  men  in  Michigan.  In  the  county  of 
Eoscommon  there  is  a  beautiful  lake  some  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  in  length  which  bears  the  name  of  Houghton.  It  was 
the  way  our  people  had  to  honor  the  names  of  men  who  were 
devoting  their  energies  to  the  service  of  the  State.  But  so 
easily  and  rapidly  will  errors  become  installed  in  the  popular 
thought,  that  an  eastern  gentleman  sojourning  a  while  on  the 
banks  of  this  secluded  lake,  was  taken  by  a  resident  to  a 
point  of  land  overlooking  the  waters,  and  was  shown  the  very 
spot  where  Dr.  Houghton  was  drowned! 

The  reader  will  not  censure  the  author  for  offering  the 
following  quotation  from  a  gentleman  well  known  to  the 
citizens  of  Michigan.  In  a  report  to  the  legislature,  the  Hon. 
Lymah  D.  Norris  speaks  of  Houghton' s  death  as  "truly  a  sad 
loss  to  the  State  of  Michigan.  An  enthusiastic  lover  of 
science  for  itself,  and  for  no  selfish  end,  with  a  constitution 
that  seemed  never  to  know  fatigue  or  fear,  labor  or  danger, 
he  had  with  all  a  kindly,  loving  heart,  that  drew  to  itself  all 
who  were  brought  within  its  circle.  Simple  as  a  child,  and 
unassuming  as  he  was  scholarly,  he  wrote  his  name  on  the 
history  of  this  State,  there  to  remain  forever.  The  influence 
that  such  men  have  live  after  them,  and  if  there  is  anything 
of  unsensational  enthusiasm  in  the  advocacy  of  the  writer  of 
this  report,  of  such  geologic  work  as  would  most  gratify  the 
spirit  of  that  great  and  good  man  of  science  (if  permitted  to 


TESTIMONIALS.  103 

participate  in  the  cares  of  this  mortal  life),  it  springs  from  the 
recollection  of  many  months  of  intimate  intercourse  had  with 
him  in  the  earliest  days  of  our  University. 

"His  small,  compact  form,  sinewy  figure,  crowned  with  a 
dome-like  brain,  usually  bent  downward  like  a  full  head  of 
wheat,  as  he  sauntered  across  the  college  campus,  surrounded 
by  his  then  'baker's  dozen'  of  the  students  of  those  days — 
always  welcome  companions  to  him — is  one  of  the  memorial 
pictures  never  to  be  effaced.  Then  with  his  forward  and 
downward  look  he  seemed  ever  to  be  interrogating  Mother 
Earth  and  asking  for  her  secrets,  while  no  rare  bug  or  beetle, 
or  blade  of  grass,  or  stone,  escaped  his  notice,  but  was  seen 
and  examined  and  taken  as  the  text  for  many  pleasant  and 
instructive  lectures  to  the  loving  group  that  stood  around 
him." 


TESTIMONIALS. 

After  the  death  of  Dr.  Houghton  the  Hon.  Bela  Hubbard 
and  Mr.  William  A.  Burt  were  appointed  and  requested  to 
prepare  reports  based  on  the  field  notes  and  other  materials 
of  Houghton' s  uncompleted  labors.  As  Assistant  State 
Geologist,  Mr.  Hubbard  submitted  a  brief  but  comprehensive 
report  of  these  labors.  In  conclusion  he  says:  "In  attempt- 
ing this  duty  the  undersigned  cannot  be  unmindful  of  the 
very  meagre  and  imperfect  sketch  here  presented,  when 
compared  with  whatever  proceeded  from  that  master  mind, 
whose  genius  first  developed  and  whose  indomitable  energy 
tracked  through  all  its  difficulties  a  system  not  only  intricate 
in  itself  but  novel  to  science,  and  in  a  region  at  that  time 
destitute  of  all  ordinary  facilities  for  scientific  investigation. 


104  APPENDIX. 

To  the  same  active  and  philosophical  mind  we  owe  the  system 
of  the  union  of  the  geological  with  the  lineal  surveys  of  the 
land  of  the  United  States,  the  first  experimental  results  of 
which  are  now  returned  to  this  department." 

This  memoir  of  Dr.  Houghton  had  been  nearly  completed 
before  the  author  had  seen  the  report  of  Mr.  T.  B.  Brooks  to 
the  Board  of  Geological  Surveys  of  the  State  of  Michigan. 
This  able  report  had  escaped  his  notice,  being  absent  from 
the  State  when  it  was  first  made,  but  he  cannot  deny  himself 
the  satisfaction  of  giving  to  the  reader  these  generous  words 
of  an  able  scientist,  competent  to  appreciate  the  genius  and 
the  labor  of  his  predecessor. 


From  the  report  of  T.  B.  Brooks  to  the  Board  of  Geological  Survey 
of  the  State  of  Michigan,  Vol.  I,  page  12: 

"The  honesty,  skill  and  enthusiasm  with  which  this  field 
work  was  executed,  resulted  in  the  collection  of  a  large 
amount  of  geological  data,  which  at  the  completion  of  the 
survey  would  have  left  little  to  be  done  save  the  final  report, 
with  which  the  master  mind  should  classify,  group  and 
harmonize  these  facts,  and  thereby  develop  nature's  laws 
from  the  mass  of  materials  collected. 

"  Dr.  Houghton7  s  untimely  death  by  drowning  on  Lake 
Superior  while  in  the  midst  of  his  labors  prevented  him  from 
performing  this  crowning  work.  Anyone  familiar  with  the 
geology  of  the  upper  peninsula  and  who  will  peruse  tjjie 
manuscript  notes  left  by  Dr.  Houghton,  will  be  convinced 
that  his  views  regarding  the  geology  of  the  older  rocks  were 
far  in  advance  of  his  time,  and  such  only  as  geologists  years 
after  arrived  at,  and  those  which  are  but  now,  thirty  years 
after  he  recorded  them,  universally  accepted.  In  1843  the 
financial  troubles  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  arising  out  of  the 
five  million  loan,  as  it  was  called,  were  of  such  a  character  as 
to  cause  the  legislature  to  withhold  the  annual  appropriation 


THE  SOLAR  COMPASS.  105 

for  the  geological  survey,  which  then  had  been  for  several 
years  in  successful  operation  under  the  directions  of  Dr. 
Houghton.  Thoroughly  interested  in  his  scientific  work,  and 
believing  that  the  best  interests  of  the  State  and  the  cause  of 
science  demanded  the  continuance  of  the  survey,  Dr.  Hough- 
ton  solicited  from  the  general  government  the  aid  which  his 
own  State  felt  unable  to  grant,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  in 
the  appropriation  for  the  public  survey  of  the  upper  peninsula 
of  Michigan  an  additional  allowance  per  mile,  to  cover  the 
cost  of  the  geological  work. 

uln  order  to  expedite  the  work  and  insure  the  best 
scientific  results  from  the  adoption  of  his  plans,  Dr.  Houghton 
himself  took  the  contract  from  the  government  for  completing 
the  survey  of  the  upper  peninsula  which  had  previously  been 
begun  in  1840,  under  the  direction  of  the  Hon.  William  A. 
Burt,  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor.  In  1844  Dr.  Houghton  com- 
menced operations  under  his  contract,  the  field  work  being  in 
charge  of  Mr.  Burt,  who  received  in  compensation  therefor 
the  extra  allowance  granted  by  the  government. 

"It  is  proper  to  add  that  Mr.  Burt  entered  with  deep 
interest  into  Dr.  Hough  ton's  plan,  and  had  during  his  surveys 
in  the  lower  peninsula  collected  for  him  many  specimens 
and  important  geological  information  not  required  by  his 
instructions  " 


WM.  A.  BURT  AND  HIS  SOLAR  COMPASS. 

In  1844  a  party  consisting  of  Mr.  Burt,  Jacob  Houghton, 
younger  brother  of  Dr.  Houghton,  and  others  (young  Hough- 
ton  being  the  barometer  man),  was  engaged  in  establishing 
township  lines  and  making  geological  observations  as  previ- 
ously described.  On  the  19th  of  September,  while  running 
the  eastern  line  of  town  47  north,  range  27  west,  the  great 
iron  township  as  it  proved,  they  observed  by  means  of  the 
solar  compass  a  remarkable  variation  in  the  direction  of  the 
needle. 


106  APPENDIX. 

Mr.  Houghton,  who  kept  a  diary,  says:  "On  the  evening 
of  the  18th  of  September  we  reached  the  lake  and  established 
the  northeast  corner  of  town  47  north,  between  the  Chocolate 
and  Carp  rivers.  We  then  run  west  the  township  line,  and 
camped  at  the  town  corner,  on  the  east  side  of  Teal  Lake,  on 
the  18th  September.  On  the  morning  of  the  19th  we  started 
running  the  line  south,  between  the  ranges  26  and  27.  So 
soon  as  we  reached  the  hills  to  the  south  of  the  lake  the 
compass  man  began  to  notice  the  fluctuation  in  the  variation 
of  the  magnetic  needle.  We  were,  of  course,  using  the  solar 
compass,  of  which  Mr.  Burt  was  the  inventor,  and  I  shall 
never  forget  the  excitement  of  the  old  gentleman  during  the 
changes  of  the  variation,  the  needle  not  actually  traversing 
alike  in  any  two  places.  He  kept  changing  his  position  to 
take  observations,  all  the  time  saying:  'How  would  they 
survey  this  country  without  my  compass?  What  could  be 
done  here  without  my  compass  f 

"It  was  the  full  and  complete  realization  of  what  he  had 
foreseen  when  struggling  through  the  first  stages  of  his  inven- 
tion. At  length  the  compass  man  called  for  all  to  come  and 
see  'a  variation  that  would  beat  them  all.'  As  we  looked  at 
the  instrument,  to  our  astonishment  the  north  end  of  the 
needle  was  traversing  a  few  degrees  to  the  south  of  west.  Mr. 
Burt  called  out,  'Boys,  look  around  and  see  what  you  can 
find.7  We  all  left  the  line,  some  going  to  the  east  and  some 
to  the  west,  and  all  of  us  returning  with  specimens  of  iron 
ore,  mostly  gathered  from  out  crop  This  was  along  the  first 
mile  from  Teal  Lake.  We  carried  out  all  specimens  we 
could  conveniently.'7  (See  Appendix  <E,>  vol.  2,  Geology  of 
Michigan,  unpublished  manuscript  at  the  University.  These 
extracts  and  comments  and  notes  are  by  Mr.  T.  B.  Brooks, 
who  had  the  compilations  of  these  volumes  in  charge,  a  work 
of  great  interest,  and  performed  with  ability  and  fidelity.) 


GOLD  DISCOVERY.  107 

DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  THE  MINERAL  EEGION. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  Dr.  Houghton,  in  1845,  the 
report  became  current  that  he  had  added  to  his  discoveries  of 
copper,  silver,  iron  and  lead,  that  of  gold,  but  as  his  notes  of 
that  year  were  lost  with  him,  it  became  generally  supposed 
that  there  was  no  foundation  for  the  rumor.  As  passing  years 
brought  no  confirmation  through  further  discovery — a  genera- 
tion, in  fact,  having  passed  away  before  the  existence  of  the 
precious  metal  became  a  practical  fact — the  alleged  discovery 
by  Dr.  Houghton  was  long  treated  as  a  myth. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  those  who  have  read  the  fore- 
going pages  that  Dr.  Houghton  was  at  that  time  carrying 
forward  the  connected  linear  and  geological  survey  of  the 
mineral  region  under  a  contract  with  the  government,  conse- 
quently he  had  several  parties  of  surveyors  in  the  field. 
Among  them  was  Mr.  Samuel  W.  Hill,  who  is  well  known 
throughout  the  Lake  Superior  region.  We  here  copy  from 
the  "  Marquette  Mining  Journal"  his  statement,  which 
would  seem  to  set  the  question  at  rest: 

SAMUEL  W.  HILL'S  EECOLLECTIONS  OF  DR.  HOUGHTON' s 
GOLD  DISCOVERY  ON  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 

S.  W.  Hill,  who  was  with  Dr.  Houghton  on  his  geological 
survey  of  the  Marquette  iron  region  about  forty  years  ago, 
said  that  he  was  sent  up  with  a  party  of  men  to  where 
Kegaunee  now  stands,  and  they  pitched  their  tents  a  hundred 
rods  northeast  of  the  city,  where  the  Doctor  was  operating  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Chocolate  Eiver.  One  day  the  Doctor  visited 
their  camp  to  see  how  they  were  progressing  at  that  end  of 
the  survey.  He  arrived  at  the  camp  in  the  afternoon,  and, 
after  resting  and  refreshing  himself,  he  took  a  pick  and  went 
out  among  the  hills.  Eeturning  just  before  darkness  set  in, 
he  said:  "Mr.  Hill  are  you  aware  we  are  in  a  gold  region?" 
Mr.  Hill  replied  that  he  was  not.  "But,"  said  the  Doctor, 
"we  are;"  and  he  took  some  specimens  of  rock  from  his 


108  APPENDIX. 

haversack  which  were  quite  richly  charged  with  gold.  Mr. 
Hill  asked  the  Doctor  if  there  was  much  of  it.  Dr.  Houghton 
answered  that  he  had  not  examined  the  ground  very  closely, 
and  also  said  he  did  not  wish  anything  said  about  it  just  then, 
as  they  had  already  had  some  trouble  with  the  men,  and  if 
these  should  become  aware  that  they  were  in  a  gold  region 
they  might  desert  them  to  hunt  for  it  themselves. 

Unfortunately,  that  fall  Dr.  Houghton  was  capsized  in  a 
squall  at  Eagle  River  and  drowned,  and  all  his  notes  were 
lost  with  him.  Mr.  Hill  says  the  Doctor  came  from  a  north- 
east course— not  from  the  northwest,  as  I  had  been  previously 
informed — and  that  he  could  not  have  been  over  a  mile  or  so 
away,  which  would  be  about  on  a  range  with  the  Eopes  vein. 
Mr.  Hill  also  said  the  specimens  then  found  were  sent  to 
Detroit,  and  Jacob  Houghton,  a  brother  of  the  Doctor,  had 
some  of  the  gold  extracted  and  made  into  a  breastpin,  which 
he  wore  for  years. — [T.  Meads,  in  Marquette  Mining  Jour- 
nal.] 


A  MEMORIAL  WINDOW. 

It  has  been  reserved  for  a  stranger  to  do  what  State  and 
citizens  have  failed  to  accomplish,  viz.,  to  erect  at  and  near 
the  scene  of  his  scientific  labors  and  triumphs,  some  suitable 
memorial  of  Dr.  Houghton. 

As  we  go  to  press  the  following  notice  comes  to  hand  of  a 
beautiful  memorial  window  put  up  in  St.  Paul's  church, 
Marquette.  The  article  is  copied  from  the  "  Marquette 
Mining  Journal,"  January,  1889,  and  is  from  the  pen  of  Hon. 
Peter  White:— 


A  HOUGHTON  WINDOW — THE  BEAUTIFUL  MEMORIAL  WIN- 
DOW JUST  PLACED  IN  ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH. 

Mr.  A.  Langfear  Norrie,  a  New  Yorker  by  birth,   after 
passing  seven  years  in  London  and  other  parts  of  England 


MEMORIAL  WINDOW.  109 

acquiring  his  education,  returned  to  his  native  country  seven 
or  eight  years  ago.  Hearing  almost  fabulous  stories  of  the 
mineral  wealth  of  Northern  Michigan,  and  of  the  new  iron 
fields  steadily  being  opened  up  here,  he  was  seized,  notwith- 
standing his  great  inherited  wealth,  by  the  laudable  ambition 
of  achieving  success  through  his  own  personal  efforts,  unaided 
by  wealth  or  friends,  and  he  came  to  Michigan  almost 
immediately  after  his  return.  He  made  Marquette  his  head- 
quarters and,  donning  the  garb  of  an  explorer,  joined  the 
hardy  class  always  to  be  found  in  the  forests  of  the  upper 
peninsula  looking  for  timber  or  mineral  wealth. 

He  traversed  the  Marquette  and  Menominee  regions,  sub- 
jecting himself  to  all  the  hardships  of  life  in  the  wilderness, 
and  then  struck  into  what  is  now  known  as  the  Gogebic 
range,  and  within  a  couple  of  years  had  located  the  great 
Norrie  mine,  which  in  the  season  just  ended  shipped  over 
400,000  tons  of  Bessemer  ore.  A  simple  reference  is  made  to 
these  facts  to  explain  Mr.  Nome's  friendly  feeling  for  Mar- 
quette, where  he  was  always  welcome,  and  where  by  the 
qualities  within  him  he  made  many  warm  friends.  In  the 
last  two  years  he  has  resumed  his  residence  in  New  York,  but 
is  still  an  occasional  visitor  to  his  Michigan  home. 

While  here  he  had  heard  and  read  of  the  exalted 
character  and  service  to  the  State  of  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton, 
as  the  first  Michigan  State  Geologist,  and  of  his  sad  fate. 
This  suggested  to  his  mind  some  suitable  memorial.  With 
this  in  view  he  wrote  to  a  prominent  citizen  of  Marquette  an 
offer  to  put  a  Hough  ton  memorial  window  in  St.  Paul's 
church  in  this  city,  and  pursuant  to  his  instructions  the  offer 
was  made  to  the  rector  and  vestry  of  the  church  as  a  Christ- 
mas gift,  December  25,  1887.  It  was  promptly  accepted  on 
that  day,  and  Mr.  Norrie  at  once  ordered  the  window  from 
the  celebrated  firm  of  Clayton  &  Bell,  London,  Eng.  At  the 
suggestion  of  Mr.  D.  F.  Charlton,  the  architect,  Mr.  Norrie 
ordered  a  brownstone  tracery,  instead  of  the  wood  sash,  in 
which  to  set  the  window.  This  was  cut  here  by  James  E. 
Lawrence,  and  is  in  itself  a  work  of  art. 


110  APPENDIX. 

The  window  is  now  in  place  in  its  brownstone  fittings. 
The  reporter  has  examined  it,  and  only  regrets  his  inability 
to  adequately  describe  the  beauty  of  finish,  harmonious  blend- 
ing of  color,  exquisite  design  and  perfect  loveliness  of  its 
toute  ensemble,  the  same  attributes  of  perfection  being  found  in 
each  separate  figure.  It  is  a  poem  in  glass.  The  emblems 
can  be  only  imperfectly  described,  and  the  reader  should  visit 
the  church  for  himself  and  see  the  window  with  the  sunlight 
streaming  through  it.  In  the  lower  right  hand  corner  appears 
the  " Salutation" — Mary  saluting  Elizabeth  before  the  birth 
of  John  the  Baptist,  while  in  the  lower  left  hand  panel  is  the 
"Annunciation" — the  angel  Gabriel  announcing  to  Mary  the 
coming  birth  of  Christ.  The  two  panels  forming  the  centre 
section  of  the  window  are  really  one  in  design,  and  represent 
the  " IsTati vity ' 7  and  the  t( Adoration" — Mary  and  Joseph 
with  the  child  in  the  manger,  and  the  visit  of  the  three  wise 
men,  kings  of  the  east,  one  with  gold,  another  with  frankin- 
cense, and  the  third  with  myrrh.  The  beauty  of  the  three 
faces,  and  figures  is  wonderful.  It  is  noticeable  that  the 
artists  follow  the  ancient  tradition,  and  picture  one  of  the 
kings  as  a  Nubian.  The  upper  panel,  circular  in  form,  also 
relates  to  the  design  of  the  centre  section.  It  represents  the 
"  Glorification  " — the  song  of  the  angels,  and  the  star  throw- 
ing its  light  down  upon  the  stable  in  Bethlehem  for  the 
guidance  of  the  kings. 

The  window  is  mediaeval  in  design  and  finish,  and  is 
striking  in  the  attention  paid  to  details.  It  is  perfect  in  its 
smallest  part,  and  the  richness  of  coloring  cannot  be  sur- 
passed. Between  the  lower  panel  and  the  center  section  is 
the  inscription  from  Isaiah,  "The  Gentiles  shall  come  to  Thy 
light  and  kings  to  the  brightness  of  Thy  rising,"  while  across 
the  bottom,  just  above  the  sash,  are  the  words,  "Douglass 
Houghton,  M.  D.,  State  Geologist,  born  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
21,  1809;  drowned  Eagle  Eiver,  Mich.,  Oct.  13,  1845.  Pre- 
sented Xmas  1887,  by  A.  L.  N." 

Dr.  Douglass  Houghton  was  the  first  State  Geologist  of 
Michigan.  He  was  appointed  immediately  on  the  admission 


MEMORIAL  WINDOW.  Ill 

of  this  State  into  the  Union,  at  about  the  same  time  that,  as  a 
result  of  "The  Toledo  War,"  Michigan  acquired  the  upper 
peninsula.  In  May,  1840,  Dr.  Houghton  came  to  Lake 
Superior  and  the  upper  peninsula  in  canoes  and  small  boats, 
accompanied  by  Bela  Hubbard  and  Columbus  C.  Douglass  as 
his  assistant  scientific  expert  geologists.  Of  the  same  expe- 
dition was  Frederick  Hubbard,  in  charge  of  instrumental 
observations,  H.  Thielson,  civil  engineer,  Charles  W.  Penny 
and  six  Canadian  oarsmen. 

The  State  has  gained  much  knowledge,  and  information 
through  the  work  of  this  commission,  but  the  boat  occupied 
by  Dr.  Houghton  was  capsized  and  he  was  drowned  October 
13,  1845,  oif  Eagle  Eiver.  He  had  completed  his  summer's 
work  on  this  peninsula,  and  was  returning  home  with  all  the 
notes  of  the  season's  discoveries  and  observations,  all  of  which 
were  lost  with  him. 

In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  copy  a 
tribute  to  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton  by  an  upper  peninsula 
State  senator  in  1875,  in  an  address  before  both  houses  of  the 
legislature  that  year.  It  is  here  given: 

"  At  length,  in  1841,  the  first  report  of  the  geological 
survey  of  the  upper  peninsula  was  made  by  the  Michigan 
State  Geologist,  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton. 

1 '  Here  I  must  pause,  for  Douglass  Houghton  is  a  name 
which  no  true  Lake  Superior  man,  or  Michigan  man,  ever 
passes  without  a  tribute,  perhaps  unspoken  but  none  the  less 
striking,  deep  and  pure,  in  the  bottom  of  his  heart. 

"The  world  has  now  but  just  turned  from  the  pageant 
which  followed  to  an  illustrious  tomb  the  scarred  and  weather- 
beaten  frame  of  that  great  man,  Dr.  Livingstone,  who  gave  up 
'his  life  to  his  God  humbly  kneeling  by  his  rough  couch  in  the 
wilds  of  Africa,  where  no  white  man's  foot  had  ever  trod,  in 
magnificent  solitude. 

"We  have  here  no  enormous  London,  no  rich  and  cultured 
people,  bowing  in  enthusiasm  before  the  throne  of  intellect, 
science,  genius  and  heroism;  no  titled,  hereditary  lords  and 


112  APPENDIX. 

sovereigns  in  funeral  train;  no  vast  and  sombre  monumental 
pile  where  rest  in  peace  the  ashes  of  the  mighty  dead. 

""We  are  a  rough,  practical,  money -making  race.  Seldom 
in  our  busy  day  can  we  pause  to  ponder  on  the  goodness  of  a 
by-gone  friend,  and  we  shudder  to  think  how  soon  the  stream 
of  life  will  close  over  our  heads  after  we,  too,  have  followed. 

"But  we  have  great,  warm,  working,  western  hearts, 
which  the  icy  waters  that  were  his  winding-sheet  cannot  chill, 
and  they  shall  be  our  Westminster  Abbey,  Douglass  Hough- 
ton's  mausoleum.  We  will  fix  our  eyes  on  his  noble  life  and 
death,  and  by  striving  with  generous  ardor  to  emulate  them, 
erect  to  him  the  imperishable  memorial  which  history  ever 
grants  the  teacher,  and,  perhaps  by  God's  grace,  may  follow 
him  to  heaven." 


LETTERS.  113 


PART  IV. 


LETTERS  OF  DR.  HOUGHTON. 


TO   HON.  AUGUSTUS  PORTER. 

This  letter  to  the  Hon.  Augustus  Porter,  member  of  Con- 
gress from  Detroit,  is  in  reply  to  one  of  inquiry  copied  from 
the  "  National  Intelligencer,"  Washington,  D.  C.: 

DETROIT,  December  26th,  1840. 
MY  DEAR  SIR,— 

Yours  of  the  17th  inst.  has  just  come  to  hand,  and  it  is 
highly  gratifying  to  me  that  steps  have  been  taken  in  relation 
to  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie  canal  at  an  early  day  in  the  session. 
The  importance  of  this  work  to  Michigan  is  appreciated  by 
but  few  of  our  citizens,  and  its  importance  in  a  national  point 
of  view  is  hardly  appreciated  at  all. 

The  fact  is,  the  great  mass  of  our  people  are  disposed  to 
look  upon  the  upper  peninsula  as  having  a  climate  so  rigorous 
and  a  soil  so  poor  as  wholly  to  unfit  it  for  agriculture.  Now, 
both  these  suppositions  are  without  ground,  and  I  will 
venture  to  say  that  the  soil  and  climate  as  a  whole  are  better 
adapted  to  the  purposes  of  agriculture  than  that  of  the  New 
England  States.  I  do  not  speak  on  this  subject  without 
knowledge,  for  I  have  traversed  the  length  of  Lake  Superior 

(8) 


114  APPENDIX. 

by  canoes,  oar  and  sail  boats,  five  times;  have  ascended  fre- 
quently, though  not  always,  to  the  sources  of  every  stream 
entering  the  lake  from  the  south  side;  have  crossed  from  the 
lake  to  the  Mississippi  River  by  three  different  lines,  and 
have  made  many  hundred  miles  of  traverses  of  land  where  I 
did  not  follow  the  course  of  the  stream.  The  Indians,  after 
leaving  the  immediate  shores  of  the  lake,  raised  corn,  and  it 
was  a  sure  crop.  The  average  latitude  of  the  south  coast  is 
nearly  46  deg.  30  min.  In  only  one  respect  do  I  imagine 
there  has  been  an  over-estimate  of  the  resources  of  this 
district,  and  this  is  with  timber.  The  amount  of  pine  com- 
pared with  what  has  been  usually  supposed,  is,  I  imagine, 
small.  The  quantity  of  sugar  maple  is  vastly  greater  than 
has  been  supposed,  and  frequently  this  is  of  the  most  mag- 
nificent growth  I  have  ever  seen.  The  exports  of  this  district 
for  the  present  must  consist  chiefly  of  peltries,  fish  and 
minerals.  Upon  the  two  first  of  these  the  last  census  will 
give  you  full  statistical  returns,  and  I  would  add  that  the 
fishing  is  conducted  under  very  great  disadvantage  and 
increased  expense  in  consequence  of  keeping  vessels  con- 
stantly upon  the  lake  with  a  crew  under  pay,  while  they 
necessarily  lie  idle  during  a  large  portion  of  the  year. 

Of  the  mineral  resources  of  the  country  I  am  unable  to 
speak  as  definitely  as  could  be  wished,  for  the  reason  that  my 
field  notes  are  not  yet  reduced  to  form.  Much  time  is 
required  to  place  the  observations  for  geological  locations  of 
fixed  points  in  such  a  shape  as  to  make  a  whole,  and  until 
this  is  done  I  am  unable  to  fix  the  precise  limits  of  the  mineral 
region. 

Ores  of  zinc,  lead,  iron  and  manganese  occur  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  but  I  doubt 
whether  these,  unless  it  be  zinc  and  iron,  are  in  sufficient 
abundance  to  prove  of  much  importance.  Ores  of  copper  are 
much  more  abundant  than  either  of  those  before  mentioned, 
and  a  sufficient  examination  of  them  has  been  made  to  satisfy 
me  that  they  may  be  made  to  yield  an  abundant  supply  of 
the  metals.  I  do  not  mean  by  this  that  copper  is  to  be  found 


LETTEBS.  115 

in  that  region,  as  is  the  popular  opinion,  pure  and  without 
labor,  but  that  capital  may  be  safely  invested  in  raising  and 
smelting  of  these  ores  with  profit  to  the  capitalist. 

The  district  which  is  believed  to  contain  the  chief  of  the 
copper  ores  lies  upon  the  south  side  of  the  lake  and  towards 
the  westerly  end.  It  stretches  partly  parallel  to  the  lake  for 
a  distance  a  little  less  than  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  and 
has  an  average  breadth  of  three  to  four  miles.  These  dimen- 
sions are  given  a  little  at  random,  but  they  cannot  vary  far 
from  the  truth.  This  district  only  reaches  the  shore  of  the  lake 
at  a  single  point;  from  this  it  stretches  off  on  a  crescent  form 
about  twenty-eight  miles  inland,  and  again  approaches  within 
half  a  mile  of  the  coast.  The  mineral  district  of  Lake 
Superior  bears  a  very  striking  resemblance,  in  a  geological 
point  of  view,  as  in  all  other  respects,  to  that  of  the  celebrated 
copper  and  tin  district  of  Cornwall  and  Devon,  England,  and 
its  area  is  vastly  greater.  The  veins  of  ore  traversing  the 
mineral  district  of  Lake  Superior,  in  those  portions  I  have 
examined  closely,  are  of  very  frequent  occurrence,  and  range 
from  a  few  inches  to  fourteen  feet  in  width.  I  do  not  now 
recollect  (I  write  without  a  reference  to  field  notes)  that  I 
traced  any  of  those  veins  over  a  mile  in  length,  and  most  of 
them  less,  but  the  difficulty  of  tracing  them  depended  on  the 
covering  of  earth  and  the  obstacles  from  the  thickness  of  the 
timber  and  the  undershrub.  The  average  width  of  the  worked 
veins  in  Cornwall  is  about  four  feet,  which  is  considerably 
less  than  the  average  of  those  of  the  district  examined  near 
Lake  Superior.  I  brought  from  Lake  Superior  on  my  return 
to  Detroit  this  fall  from  four  to  five  tons  of  copper  ores,  and 
am  now  busily  engaged  in  making  an  analysis  of  them.  Thus 
far  they  have  proved  equal  to  any  ores  I  have  ever  seen,  and 
their  value  for  purpose  of  reduction  cannot  be  doubted.  The 
average  per  cent,  of  metal  is  considerably  above  that  of  the 
ores  of  Cornwall.  While  speaking  of  the  ores  I  am  reminded 
of  the  beautiful  specimens  of  native  copper  which  came  out 
with  the  ores  in  opening  some  of  these  veins.  They  are  not 
very  abundant,  but  some  of  them  are  very  fine.  In  opening 


116  APPENDIX. 

a  vein  with  a  single  blast,  I  threw  out  nearly  two  tons  of  ore, 
and  with  this  were  many  masses  of  native  copper,  from  the 
most  minute  specks  to  about  forty  pounds  in  weight,  which 
was  the  largest  mass  I  obtained  from  that  vein.  Ores  of 
silver  occasionally  occur  with  the  copper,  and  in  opening  one 
vein  small  specks  of  native  silver  were  observed.  There  are 
as  yet,  however,  no  evidences  of  the  existence  of  this  metal  in 
sufficient  abundance  to  be  of  practical  value. 

It  has  been  my  desire  in  all  examinations  connected  with 
these  important  subjects  to  be  sure  and  not  deceive  myself, 
and  to  draw  no  conclusions  but  such  as  are  strictly  based 
on  observation. 

The  collection  of  minerals  I  have  brought  from  the  regions 
of  Lake  Superior  have  turned  the  heads  of  most  of  those 
persons  who  have  examined  them,  but  it  is  not  so  with  my- 
self, for  I  know  full  well  the  many  difficulties  and  embarrass- 
ments which  will  surround  the  development  of  the  resources 
of  this  district  of  country.  That  it  will  eventually  prove  of 
great  value  to  our  citizens  and  to  the  nation  there  can  scarcely 
be  a  shadow  of  doubt,  but  the  time  when  this  can  be  done 
must  in  a  great  measure  depend  on  the  general  policy  of  our 
government.  This  should  be  a  liberal  one,  and  such  as  will 
give  stimulus  to  individual  enterprise,  while  it  will  prevent 
a  monopoly.  The  construction  of  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie  canal 
will  add  very  much  to  the  facilities,  and  in  fact  at  this  time 
without  it  nothing  could  be  done  except  at  enormous  and 
ruinous  expense. 

I  hope  to  see  the  day  when  instead  of  importing  the  whole 
of  the  immense  amount  of  copper  and  brass  used  in  our 
country  we  may  become  exporters  of  both. 

DOUGLASS   HOUGHTOtf, 

State  Geologist. 


TO   RICHARD   HOUGHTON. 

It  would  seem  that  the  plan  of  Mr.  Lucius  Lyon,  mentioned 
in  the  following  letter,  in  reference  to  the  appointment  of  Dr. 


LETTERS.  117 

Houghton  as  Naturalist,  was  not  carried  out,  for  in  June 
following  we  find  him  on  Lake  Superior,  connected  as  surgeon 
and  botanist  with  the  Schoolcraft  expedition,  as  will  appear 
in  a  subsequent  letter. 

Bichard,  to  whom  this  letter  was  addressed,  was  then  at 
Lockport,  ~N.  Y. : 

FREDONIA,  N.  Y.,  Feb'y  21,  1832. 
To  Richard  Houghton : 

DEAR  BROTHER: — As  I  suppose  that  Lydia  and  Sarah, 
who  have  scribbled  on  the  other  side,  have  given  you  the 
most  important  news  respecting  our  mighty  city  and  its 
citizens,  I  will  briefly  attend  to  my  own  matter.  Since  you 
left  here  I  have  heard  from  Secretary  Cass  through  Mr.  Bates 
Cook,  and  he  talks  favorably.  There  is  now  no  vacancy  in 
the  medical  staff  of  the  army,  but  there  is  a  bill  before  the 
House  for  increasing  the  number,  and  I  presume  it  will  pass. 

I  have  received  from  Mr.  Lucius  Lyon,  agent  or  commis- 
sioner to  settle  some  of  the  Indian  boundaries  at  Galena,  111. , 
an  invitation  to  accompany  him  the  ensuing  season,  in  sett- 
ling the  Indian  bounds  under  the  Treaty  of  Prairie  du  Chien, 
of  1830,  in  the  Northwest  territory,  as  naturalist.  He  will 
apply  to  the  war  department  for  a  direct  appropriation  for 
that  purpose,  and  he  offers  to^  furnish  me  forty  dollars  per 
month  from  his  own  pocket,  in  addition  to  which  he  will 
defray  my  expenses  from  the  time  I  leave  home  until  I  return 
next  fall.  The  route  is  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  Missis- 
sippi one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  Galena,  and  running 
up  the  Iowa  Eiver  to  its  source,  thence  to  the  upper  forks  of 
the  Des  Moines  Eiver,  thence  to  Calumet  Eiver  and  down 
that  river  to  the  Missouri,  somewhere  near  Council  Bluffs, 
then  down  the  Missouri  Eiver  to  the  Western  boundaries  of 
the  State  of  Missouri,  thence  north  on  said  boundary  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  State,  thence  by  a  circuitous  route  to 
the  upper  forks  of  the  Des  Moines  Eiver  as  aforesaid.  The 
lines  of  the  Iowa  Eiver  and  across  the  Des  Moines  will  be 


118  APPENDIX. 

treble,  one  line  on  each  side  of  the  centre  line,  and  at  a  dis- 
tance of  twenty  miles  from  it.  The  greater  part  of  the  route 
will  be  through  a  country  almost  wholly  unexplored.  It  will 
undoubtedly  afford  a  rich  field  for  investigation,  particularly 
in  the  department  of  botany,  and  should  an  appropriation  be 
made  for  that  purpose  will  afford  a  handsome  salary.  If  I  do 
not  receive  other  orders  from  the  war  department  I  shall 
probably  leave  here  for  Galena  as  early  as  the  first  of  April. 
My  route  will  be  down  the  Ohio,  and  up  the  Mississippi  by 
the  way  of  St.  Louis,  and  my  return  in  the  fall  by  the  way  of 
the  Illinois  Eiver  to  Chicago,  and  across  the  peninsula  of 
Michigan  to  Detroit. 

I  shall  look  for  further  instruction  from  Mr.  Lyon  in  about 
twenty  days,  when  I  will  write  more  upon  the  subject;  other 
things  which  I  mentioned  to  you  will  be  deferred  until  next 
fall.  My  business  is  so  urgent  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
visit  Lockport  as  I  anticipated.  Eemembrauces  to  Mr. 
Brown  and  family.  Please  write  me  immediately. 

Your  brother, 
DOUGLASS  HOUGHTOK 


TO  RICHARD   HOUGHTON. 

Dr.  Houghton  had  been  appointed  as  surgeon  and  botanist 
to  the  Schoolcraft  expedition  for  the  discovery  of  the  sources 
of  the  Mississippi.  This  letter  is  to  his  younger  brother 
Eichard,  who  fell  a  victim  to  the  cholera  two  years  after  at 
Detroit: 

AMEEICAN  FUE  CO.  POST. 

FOND  DU  LAC,  June  24,  1832. 
MY  DEAR  BROTHER:— 

We  arrived  at  this  place,  which  is  twenty -four  miles 
beyond  the  head  of  Lake  Superior,  on  the  St.  Louis  Eiver, 
last  evening.  I  was  much  surprised  upon  our  arrival,  at  the 


LETTERS.  119 

village -like  appearance  which  it  presents.  There  are  several 
capacious  log  buildings  and  these  are  surrounded  by  a 
stockade,  and  this  gives  it  almost  the  air  of  a  fort.  Directly 
in  the  rear  of  the  post,  the  hills  rise  almost  to  mountain 
heights  and  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  they  are  seen 
stretching  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach  in  either  direction. 
The  trading  clerks  and  voyageurs  of  the  American  Fur  Co. 
who  trade  west  and  north  of  the  head  of  Lake  Superior,  about 
two  hundred  in  number,  are  now  collected  here,  and  in 
addition  to  these  there  are  between  two  and  three  hundred 
Indians  of  the  band  now  situated  at  this  place,  now  present, 
and  adding  our  own  party  we  can  muster  between  five  and 
six  hundred  persons,  so  that  you  can  well  imagine  we  have 
lively  times.  Some  of  these  half  French  and  half  Indian 
traders  have  traversed  during  the  winter  most  of  the  country 
bordering  on  the  upper  Mississippi  Eiver,  while  others  have 
been  as  far  west  as  the  Eocky  Mountains. 

Mr.  Aiken,  the  director  of  the  company  in  this  section  of 
the  country  is  now  here — his  headquarters  at  Sandy  Lake. 
He  is  European  French,  I  suppose,  is  affable  and  intelligent, 
and  has  been  in  the  Indian  country  more  than  twenty  years. 
I  also  met  here  a  German  physician  with  whom  I  was  before 
acquainted,  who  has  engaged  in  the  Indian  trade,  and  passed 
the  last  winter  at  Rainy  Lake.  All  the  traders  will  leave 
here  to-morrow  for  Mackinac,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving 
their  annual  supplies.  This  day  is  Sunday,  and  we  are 
stationary.  To  -morrow  our  baggage  will  be  arranged  in  pack- 
ages smaller  than  is  usual,  weighing  ninety  pounds,  and  will 
commence  passing  around  the  falls  of  this  river  upon  the 
Portage,  which  is  nine  miles  in  length.  The  Portage  is,  in 
consequence  of  excessive  rains,  nearly  impassable,  and  for 
this  reason  it  is  calculated  that  our  voyageurs  can  only  carry 
two  packages  each,  weighing  one  hundred  and  eighty  pounds, 
at  a  load.  Between  this  and  Sandy  Lake  it  will  be  necessary 
to  make  about  seventeen  miles  of  portage,  which  will  alone 
occupy  about  six  days.  Our  precise  route  is  but  just  deter- 
mined We  will  proceed  from  this  place  by  the  Grand  Port- 


120  APPENDIX. 

age,  St.  Louis  Eiver  Portage  Aux  Coteau,  Savannah  River, 
Savannah  Portage,  Sandy  Lake  and  Sandy  River,  to  the 
Mississippi  River.  From  thence  ascend  the  ^Mississippi 
River,  pass  by  Little  Lake  Winnipeg  to  Upper  Red  Cedar 
Lake,  and  from  thence  to  Lac  La  Bishop;  from  thence  return 
by  another  route  to  Upper  Red  Cedar  Lake,  then  proceed  by 
Leach  River  to  Leach  Lake,  thence  by  a  series  of  portages 
and  small  lakes  to  the  source  of  the  River  de  Carbeau,  the 
great  southwest  fork  of  the  Mississippi,  thence  descend  the 
River  de  Carbeau  to  the  Mississippi,  and  the  latter  stream  as 
far  as  fifty  miles  below  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  thence  we 
will  proceed  by  the  St.  Croix  River  and  River  Brule,  with 
only  a  short  portage  to  Lake  Superior,  which  we  will  enter 
from  the  southern  shore  about  four  hundred  and  sixty  miles 
above  the  Sault  Ste  Marie.  We  hope  to  complete  this  im- 
mense journey  so  as  to  arrive  at  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie  between 
the  middle  and  the  last  of  August.  You  can  scarcely  imagine 
the  difficulties  which  we  will  be  obliged  to  encounter,  and 
they  certainly  beggar  description.  Although  I  am  now 
twelve  hundred  miles  from  you,  I  consider  this  the  place 
where  I  in  reality  commence  my  journey. 

I  find  the  vaccination  of  the  Indians  an  irksome  task, 
chiefly  in  consequence  of  the  great  numbers.  Last  evening 
after  our  arrival  I  operated  upon  two  hundred  and  forty  at 
one  sitting,  and  I  shall  complete  the  band  to  morrow.  As  yet 
I  have  only  found  a  few  who  had  never  heard  of  vaccination. 
It  is  astonishing  to  learn  the  fearful  dread  they  have  of  the 
small-pox.  When  I  commence  operating  they  crowd  around 
me  with  their  arms  ready,  and  anxiously  wait  their  turn.  I 
keep  an  accurate  list  of  the  number,  age  and  sex  of  those 
vaccinated,  together  with  the  tribe  and  band  to  which  they 
belong. 

The  season  is  hardly  sufficiently  advanced  to  admit  of  an 
extensive  collection  of  plants,  but  I  am  doing  more  than  could 
have  been  expected.  I  received  another  letter  from  Prof. 
Torry,  respecting  my  plants  of  last  year,  after  my  arrival  at 
the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  I  was  much  gratified  to  learn  that 


LETTERS.  121 

the  opinion  I  had  given  respecting  those  which  I  supposed  to 
be  undescribed  species  was  supported  by  the  New  York 
botanist.  This  will  give  me  fresh  courage  to  push  the  subject 
this  season.  My  mineral  collection,  as  yet,  has  been  but 
small.  I  wish  you  to  write  me  at  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  so  that 
it  can  reach  there  by  the  20th  of  August.  We  have  good 
health  so  far,  and  while  our  men  have  hard  times  upon  the 
portage  I  have  more  leisure  to  make  my  scientific  examina- 
tions than  I  could  under  other  circumstances.  To- morrow 
morning  I  expect  to  take  up  the  brachial  artery  in  a  case  of 
advanced  aneurism. 

Love  to  all  members  of  the  family, 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

DOUGLASS  HOUGHTOK 


TO  HON.  JACOB  HOTJGHTON. 

DETROIT,  Dec.  20,  1834. 
DEAR  FATHER:— 

I  have  neglected  writing  you  much  longer  than  I  intended, 
but  this  has  arisen  wholly  from  fatigue  of  business,  leaving 
me  with  hardly  sufficient  energy  to  sit  down  to  write  what 
was  not  an  absolute  necessity.  Since  our  return  to  the  city 
our  health  has  been  constantly  good,  I  think  mine  has  hardly 
ever  been  better.  Lydia  seems  contented,  and  I  think  she  is 
pleased  with  our  place.  In  business  I  am  still  prospering;  it 
is  constantly  and  rapidly  increasing,  and  that  among  the  most 
respectable  citizens.  My  charges,  which  are  perfectly  good, 
from  the  time  of  my  return  from  Fredonia  to  the  first  of 
January,  although  the  town  has  been  healthy,  will  amount  to 
between  one  thousand  and  thirteen  hundred  dollars,  the  time 
being  less  than  thirteen  months. 

I  had  proposals  some  time  ago  from  a  physician  whom  I 
supposed  to  be  doing  the  most  business  in  the  city,  for  a  co- 
partnership, and  though  I  was  convinced  that  if  my  health 
remained  good  it  would  be  of  no  advantage  to  me,  I  was  upon 


122  APPENDIX. 

the  whole  disposed  to  look  upon  it  rather  favorably.  We 
compared  estimates  of  our  charges,  and  I  was  astonished  to 
find  that  mine  exceeded  his  by  several  hundred  dollars  for 
the  last  year. 

I  confess  that  I  was  not  without  some  little  feeling  of 
gratification  that  I  was  able  to  make  such  a  comparison  with 
one  who  has  been  in  business  here  sixteen  years.  The  result 
was  that  we  concluded  to  join  our  business  as  soon  after  the 
first  of  January  as  the  new  office  can  be  fitted  up,  but  a  per- 
quisite will  be  allowed  me  worth  some  four  or  five  hundred 
dollars  a  year. 

I  have  just  closed  the  purchase  of  two  city  lots  near  my 
president  residence,  and  situated  near  the  centre  of  the  city 
on  a  pleasant  street  only  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  from 
Main  street.  They  cost  me  sixteen  hundred  dollars;  of  this  I 
pay  six  hundred  dollars  down,  and  the  balance  is  to  be  paid 
in  equal  payments  of  one  and  two  years  with  interest.  I 
propose  to  build  on  these  lots  next  summer.  They  are  fifty- 
three  feet  front  and  sixty  feet  deep.  I  think  I  will  be  able  to 
build  two  substantial  brick  houses  for  four  or  five  thousand 
dollars,  without  involving  myself,  against  which  I  intend  to 
guard  rigidly.  One  I  propose  to  occupy  myself,  and  the 
other  will  rent  readily  for  three  or  four  hundred  dollars  per 
annum.  I  consider  the  purchase  of  the  lots  so  much  of  a 
bargain  that  I  would  not  release  them  for  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  I  do  not  doubt  from  their  situation  that  they  will  be 
worth  double  their  present  cost  in  two  years  time.  I  have 
finally  determined  to  invest  all  my  earnings  in  lots  and  build- 
ings, and  in  order  that  the  income  may  be  permanent  I  will 
build  nothing  but  of  the  most  durable  kind.  Temporary 
structures  will  give  greater  profit  at  present,  but  in  the  end 
the  erection  of  such  would  be  bad  policy.  Should  my  present 
practice  continue  for  four  or  five  years,  and  my  life  and 
health  be  spared,  I  may  be  able  to  return  to  Fredonia  with  a 
handsome  support  for  my  brothers  and  sisters  who  may 
require  it.  But  after  all,  it  is  not  for  myself  that  I  toil,  nor  is 
it  for  myself  that  I  rejoice  in  my  pecuniary  success.  I  rejoice 


LETTERS.  123 

in  the  prospect  that  I  will  be  able  to  free  a  kind  and  indulgent 
parent  from  the  toil  of  business  for  which  his  age  unfits  him. 
I  feel  that  I  have  much  to  repay,  and  I  only  hope  that  my 
life  may  be  spared  to  repay  it.  I  only  wish  to  be  able  to 
labor  successfully  that  it  shall  be  done.  I  desire  to  invest 
what  I  have  already  made  so  that  the  interest  may  go  towards 
the  education  and  support  of  the  family,  and  when  I  have 
once  done  this  the  income  will  be  regular.  I  have  been 
anxious  to  hear  from  Alexander,  but  he  does  not  write  me. 
His  proper  education  I  look  upon  as  a  matter  of  great  import- 
ance; his  success  in  life  depends  upon  it.  I  daily  become 
more  and  more  convinced  of  the  utter  inability  of  an  unedu- 
cated man  to  occupy  any  prominent  situation  without  much 
humiliation.  I  have  not  written  this  about  Alexander 
because  I  feel  any  less  interest  in  the  other  members  of  the 
family.  I  know  no  division  of  interest,  but  I  feel  that  I 
already  want  the  assistance  of  Alexander,  and  as  if  he  would 
be  fitted  to  occupy  a  situation  which  I  have  now  in  view.  I 
constantly  think  of  you  all.  Though  I  have  said  nothing  of 
mother,  aunt,  Sarah  and  Jacob,  it  is  not  from  a  want  of 
thought.  I  look  anxiously  for  the  time  when  I  may  set 
myself  down  by  you.  I  may  not  be  able  to  do  this  very 
soon,  but  I  shall  labor  with  no  less  pleasure  to  be  able  to  add 
to  the  comforts  of  all  the  members  of  the  family  at  home. 
Your  affectionate  son, 

DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON. 

At  this  date,  1834,  he  was  in  full  practice  of  his  profession, 
but  great  opportunities  were  then  opened  to  young  profes- 
sional and  business  men  to  lay  the  foundation  of  fortunes. 
Dr.  Houghton's  knowledge  of  business  and  high  credit  would 
lead  him  to  enter  with  energy  the  field  of  real  estate  invest- 
ments. Mr.  Henry  G.  Hubbard  was  associated  with  him  in 
the  purchase  of  real  estate.  His  father,  the  Hon.  Thomas  H. 
Hubbard,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  had  met  Dr.  Houghton  in  Detroit, 
and  was  inspired  with  great  confidence  in  his  business  quali- 


124  APPENDIX. 

fications  and  his  transparent  integrity  of  character.  Mr. 
Hubbard  was  a  gentleman  of  ample  fortune,  but  of  a  careful 
and  cautious  nature,  and  the  fact  that  he  did  not  hesitate  to 
entrust  the  large  sum  of  $20,000  to  Dr.  Houghton  as  a  loan 
shows  a  rare  confidence  in  his  character,  and  is  a  pleasing 
evidence  of  these  qualities  of  order,  sagacity  and  probity  that 
even  then  were  marked  traits  of  Dr.  Houghton. 

One  of  those  investments  it  may  be  worth  while  to  notice 
particularly  as  showing  not  merely  good  judgment  of  the 
young  real  estate  operator,  but  his  influence  over  men. 

The  Brush  farm,  now  in  the  heart  of  the  City  of  Detroit, 
-was  then  managed  by  Edmund  A.  Brush,  whose  policy  was 
opposed  to  the  sale  of  any  portion,  but  to  lease  instead.  No 
one  had  been  able  to  prevail  upon  the  owners  to  part  with  the 
title  to  a  single  lot.  Dr.  Houghton  determined  to  try  his 
skill  upon  the  hard  head  of  Mr.  Brush.  Meeting  him  one 
day,  the  conversation  led  to  some  chaffing  upon  the  subject  of 
real  estate  management,  in  which  the  Doctor  bore  pretty  hard 
upon  the  obstinate  refusal  of  Mr.  Brush,  so  different  from  the 
custom  of  other  men,  to  sell.  "I  will  sell/'  said  Mr.  Brush, 
"if  I  get  my  price."  "Well,  now,  what  would  you  take  for 
those  ten  acres  north  of  Gratiot  street?"  "I  would  take 
$10,000,"  said  Brush,  naming  what  he  considered  a  good 
round  price  and  beyond  the  means  of  his  interrogater. 
"Done,"  said  the  Doctor,  and  the  bargain  was  consummated 
before  it  was  allowed  to  get  cold.  Dr.  Houghton  associated 
Henry  Gr.  Hubbard  with  him  in  the  venture,  which  proved 
profitable.  The  tract  is  known  as  the  "Houghton  Section." 

The  Doctor  felt  it  as  a  duty  to  himself  and  to  his  family 
not  to  neglect  these  opportunities  for  investments.  But  these 


LETTERS.  125 

new  business  complications,  with  his  professional  engage- 
ments, were  now  telling  on  his  health,  and  he  was  forced  to 
relinquish  to  some  extent  his  practice. 

It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  Dr.  Houghton 
did  not  give  up  at  any  time  his  interest  in  science,  and  the 
trip  mentioned  in  the  following  letter  was  in  part  to  make 
certain  examinations  in  reference  to  the  salt  springs. 


TO  HON.   JACOB  HOUGHTON. 

DETROIT,  April  2,  1836. 
DEAR  FATHER:— 

Your  two  letters  were  received  last  evening,  and  I  have 
but  a  moment  to  answer  them  in,  as  I  am  about  making  a 
short  trip  into  the  country  this  morning.  I  shall  be  gone 
some  eight  or  ten  days. 

You  will  have  seen  by  the  Detroit  Journal  before  you  re- 
ceive this,  that  Dr.  Eice  and  myself  have  dissolved  our  part- 
nership by  my  withdrawing  from  the  profession.  The  fact  is 
that  the  measure  was  necessary  for  common  prudence,  as  I 
have  stretched  my  arms  so  wide  that  my  profession  was  a  loss 
rather  than  a  profit.  Mr.  Hubbard  has  returned,  having  per- 
fected through  his  father,  an  arrangement  by  which  we  are 
enabled  to  draw  for  $20,000  with  additional  sums  when  re- 
quired. This  was  perfected  by  the  elder  son,  Henry  G.  Hub- 
bard,  who  has  been  indefatigable  in  assisting  us.  The  truth 
is  I  appear  to  have  gained  the  perfect  confidence  of  the  bank- 
ing interest  here,  and  it  is  giving  me  a  powerful  engine  for 
perfecting  my  plans.  I  design  to  pursue  such  a  course  as  to 
retain  that  confidence. 

I  purchased  yesterday  2,600  acres  of  pine  lands  which  cost 
$1.25  per  acre,  worth  now  from  $5.00  to  $10.00  per  acre.  The 
tract  embraces  three  valuable  mill  seats.  I  have  sold  a  small 


126  APPENDIX. 

tract  which  I  purchased  about  two  weeks  ago  for  $5.00  per 
acre. 

On  my  return  from  the  country,  if  possible,  I  shall  visit 
Fredonia,  and  I  shall  wish  Lydia  and  Sarah  to  return  with  me, 
and  if  you  think  it  best,  it  will  be  well  for  Alexander  to  be 
prepared  to  go  to  Gambia  at  the  same  time. 

I  shall  be  able  to  remain  with  you  only  a  day  or  so,  as  I 
will  be  obliged  to  return  here  promptly.  Later  in  the  season 
I  hope  to  spend  a  longer  time  with  you. 

Your  affectionate  son, 

DOUGLASS  HOUGHTOK 


These  investments,  it  will  be  observed,  were  all  made  pre- 
vious to  the  connection  of  Dr.  Houghton  with  the  Geological 
Survey.  While  State  Geologist,  Dr.  Houghton  was  scrupu- 
lously careful  to  avoid  speculations  of  all  kinds,  even  those 
that  could  not  be  supposed  to  derive  any  aid  from  his  position 
and  opportunities.  All  proffers  of  the  kind  he  declined,  from 
fear  of  private  motives  being  attributed  to  his  actions.  Would 
that  all  men  in  public  station  were  equally  uncompromising. 


TO  HON,  JACOB  HOUGHTON. 

DETROIT,  January  17,  1841. 
DEAR  FATHER:— 

Your  letter  of  the  llth  inst.  has  just  come  to  hand,  and  it 
reminds  me  how  very  remiss  I  have  been  in  writing  you,  but 
between  sickness  and  overwhelming  pressure  of  business,  my 
mind  has  been  incessantly  occupied. 

My  rheumatism  has  so  far  left  me  that  I  am  able  to  attend 
to  my  official  duties,  and  were  it  not  for  the  great  number  of 
hours  I  am  compelled  to  work,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  my 
health  would  be  completely  restored.  The  disease  was  the  re- 
sult of  excessive  fatigue  and  exposure,  and  I  do  not  imagine  it 


LETTERS.  127 

will  be  of  any  permanent  injury  to  my  constitution.  I  have 
now  been  busily  engaged  for  several  days  in  analyzing  minerals 
from  Lake  Superior  localities,  preparatory  to  my  report,  which 
will  be  sent  in  on  the  1st  of  February.  As  yet  I  have  scarcely 
touched  it,  and  the  remaining  time  is  short.  Our  Legislature 
is  in  session,  and  I  believe  the  department  over  which  I  pre- 
side is  in  greater  favor  than  it  ever  has  been  before,  for  which 
reason  I  anticipate  but  little  embarrassment. 

The  publication  of  the  maps  of  the  department  is  steadily 
progressing;  and  the  engraving  which  is  done  at  Washington, 
D.  C  ,  will  require  my  personal  attention,  and  if  health  will 
"permit  I  shall  leave  home  for  that  city  as  early  as  the  15th  to 
the  20th  of  March,  which  will  enable  me  to  attend  the  Geologi- 
cal Convention  at  Philadelphia,  the  first  week  in  April.  My 
down  trip  will  probably  be  either  by  the  way  of  Columbus  or 
Cincinnati,  but  I  hope  to  be  able  to  return  by  the  way  of  New 
York,  in  which  case  I  shall  spend  a  day  or  two  with  you, 
somewhere  between  the  15th  of  April  and  the  1st  of  May. 

I  shall  probably  be  required  to  spend  the  coming  season  in 
the  Lake  Superior  country,  but  this  is  not  certainly  deter- 
mined. Some  difficulty  is  about  occurring  with  respect  to  our 
boundary  on  the  west,  with  Wisconsin.  I  refer  to  State  line 
between  Green  Bay  and  Lake  Superior.  If  any  action  is  had 
upon  the  subject,  I  suppose  my  services  will  be  required  there, 
which  will  divert  my  labor  for  a  time  from  the  Geology  Sur- 
vey. At  any  rate  I  have  the  prospect  of  another  season  of 
severe  labor  before  me. 

We  are  all  well,  and  Hattie  is  as  fat  and  mischievous  as 
ever.  She  says,  ' '  ask  grandpapa  if  he  is  not  coming  to  see  her 
some  day.7'  The  Fredouia  boys  are  all  well.  Stephen  Snow 
has  been  sick,  but  has  now  recovered.  Dr.  Silas  Douglass  is 
in  the  United  States  service  stationed  at  the  Arsenal  at  Dear- 
born. He  is  doing  well;  is  associated  with  a  fine,  gentlemanly 
corps  of  officers  who  are  highly  educated.  He  is  improving 
in  every  way,  and  is  receiving  good  pay.  We  are  suffering 
terrible  pecuniary  embarrassment  in  our  State;  not  so  much  in 
consequence  of  our  home  debts  as  from  deranged  condition  of 


128  APPENDIX. 

the  currency.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  procure  a  draft  or 
such  money  as  may  be  transmitted  east  at  any  rate  of  ex- 
change. 

I  am  gradually  bringing  my  own  affairs  into  such  con- 
dition as  to  be  unembarrassed.  The  amount  of  taxes  I  am 
called  on  to  pay,  together  with  some  minor  debts,  have  rub- 
bed hard,  and  I  have  found  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  make 
the  end  of  the  year  meet.  My  tax  for  the  last  year  was  about 
$2,000,  and  this  added  to  other  expenses  you  know  is  no  small 
item  to  raise  in  these  times  of  embarrassment. 

It  is  now  somewhat  doubtful  whether  I  will  remove  to  Ann 
Arbor  in  the  spring.  My  house  there  is  finished,  and  is  quite 
a  splendid  mansion;  but  I  am  not  desired  to  be  upon  the 
ground  until  the  institution  is  fairly  organized,  and  at  least  a 
sufficient  number  of  the  faculty  to  make  a  society  of  our  own. 
Harriet  joins  with  me  in  sending  love  to  all  members  of  the 
family.  I  am  anxious  that  Jacob  should  pursue  his  studies 
industriously  and  prepare  himself  for  a  situation  at  West 
Point.  Say  to  Lydia  that  I  had  a  letter  from  Mr.  Bradish  a 
few  days  ago,  and  shall  answer  it  soon. 

Your  affectionate  son, 

DOUGLASS  HOUGHTOK 
JACOB  HouGrHTON,  ESQ. 


TO   HON.    JACOB   HOUGHTON. 

DETROIT,  March  13,  1841. 
DEAR  FATHER,— 

I  have  just  returned  from  an  exceedingly  fatiguing 
journey  which  has  called  me  from  home  for  a  time  of 
nearly  three  weeks,  for  which  reason  your  letter  of  Febru- 
ary 19,  is  just  received.  The  unlocked  for  intelligence 
of  the  death  of  my  young  protege,  Charles  Morrison,* 
could  scarcely  be  more  keenly  felt  were  he  my  own  son.  I  had 
watched  his  progress  in  all  that  could  serve  to  elevate  him  to 


*A  young  Indian  half-bred. 


LETTERS.  129 

the  rank  of  a  highly  intellectual  man,  with  pride,  and  I  had 
looked  forward  with  pleasure  to  the  day  when  he  should  re- 
turn to  his  parents  and  to  the  country  from  which  he  came,  to 
aid  in  bringing  about  a  moral  and  intellectual  change  in  that 
whole  country.  I  had  looked  upon  him  as  the  pattern  which 
his  associates  from  the  same  region  of  country,  would  follow. 
But  how  vain  are  all  our  hopes !  The  very  prop  upon  which 
I  was  resting  has  been  taken  away.  It  is  however,  to  be 
hoped,  that  this  calamity  may  not  act  unfavorably  upon  others 
now  at  the  school  in  Fredonia,  or  discourage  others  from  enter- 
ing the  institution.  It  would  be  well  for  you,  jointly  with  Mr. 
Palmer,  to  write  to  Mr.  Morrison.  It  would  check  any  un- 
favorable impressions  and  be  a  consolation  to  his  father.  If 
some  lady  would  write  to  Mrs.  Morrison,  no  doubt  it  would 
console  her  much,  and  might  lessen  objections  that  might  be 
likely  to  grow  up  against  sending  children  out  of  the  country 
to  school.  I  wish  all  the  effects  of  Charles  to  be  preserved 
with  the  utmost  care,  together  with  all  his  letters  and  papers. 
Mr.  Snow  is  just  on  the  point  of  starting  for  Fredonia,  and  I 
have  but  a  moment  left  to  write  you.  During  my  absence 
from  the  city,  and  without  any  knowledge  whatever,  on  my 
part,  I  have  been  elected  mayor.  Upon  first  hearing  the  re- 
sult, I  had  determined  to  refuse  to  serve.  But  my  friends  ad- 
vised differently,  and  I  have  consented  to  qualify,  which  must 
be  done  to-morrow.  The  duties  are  exceedingly  arduous,  and 
it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  perform  them  with  satisfaction 
to  myself,  for  which  reason,  I  will  probably  resign  after  two 
or  three  weeks.  My  duties  during  the  current  year  will  be 
more  arduous  than  ever,  though  it  is  .likely  I  shall  be  absent 
from  home  comparatively  little.  My  health  is  much  improved 
though  not  fully  restored.  I  had  intended  to  write  to  Mr. 
Palmer,  and  you  will  please  say  that  I  have  only  been  pre- 
vented by  the  constant  interruption  of  a  crowd  of  office  seekers 
and  friends,  so  that  I  have  been  unable  to  do  so. 
In  great  haste,  I  am, 

Your  affectionate  son, 

DOUGLASS  HOUGHTOK 

JACOB  HOUGHTON,  ESQ. 
(9) 


130  APPENDIX. 

TO   HON.  JACOB   HOUGHTON. 

DETROIT,  Nov.  14,  1841. 
DEAR  FATHER: — 

In  consequence  of  the  great  pressure  of  business  by  which 
I  have  been  surrounded  since  iny  return  from  Lake  Superior, 
I  have  delayed  writing  you  much  longer  than  had  been 
intended.  Although  my  health  during  the  summer  was  poor, 
I  have  nevertheless  been  able  to  accomplish  a  large  amount  of 
work,  and  have  done  much  towards  the  completion  of  the 
field  work  of  the  geology  and  topographical  part  of  the 
survey.  My  health  is  now  steadily  improving  and  will,  I 
think,  eventually  be  fully  restored,  though  it  probably  never 
will  be  such  as  to  permit  the  performance  of  as  active  duties 
as  those  that  have  already  been  done. 

I  am  now  busily  engaged,  in  addition  to  other  duties,  in 
arranging  the  immense  mass  of  materials  that  have  been 
steadily  accumulating  during  the  five  years  that  we  have  been 
engaged  in  the  work,  for  my  final  report.  But  this  report  will 
not  probably  appear  until  two  or  three  years  from  this  time. 

Our  University  at  Ann  Arbor  has  commenced  operations, 
and  there  is  a  tolerably  strong  class,  but  at  the  present 
juncture  I  do  not  think  it  prudent  for  me  to  remove  to  that 
place,  though  it  is  possible  I  may  think  it  advisable  to  do  so 
in  the  coming  spring.  My  pecuniary  affairs  seem  to  demand 
that  I  should  remain  here  for  a  time,  for  my  private  business 
during  the  progress  of  the  geological  survey  has  suffered  very 
much.  In  the  unsettled  condition  of  monetary  affairs  by 
which  we  are  surrounded  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  for  me  to 
make  the  ends  meet,  and  this  year  it  has  not  been  done,  the 
result  of  which  is  that  I  have  to  renew  my  attention  to  busi- 
ness to  avoid  falling  into  -deeper  difficulties  hereafter.  We 
have  the  dawn  of  brighter  days  in  our  State,  but  for  the 
present  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  proceed  in  any  direction 
without  suffering  loss.  The  large  amount  of  unproductive 
real  estate  which  is  on  my  hands  embarrasses  me  much  in  the 
way  of  payment  of  taxes,  and  unless  the  wheel  should  turn  up 


LETTERS.  131 

I  shall  be  compelled  to  suffer  sacrifices  to  meet  these.  Jacob 
is  now  attending  the  University  in  this  city,  and  is  making 
good  progress  in  his  studies.  Columbus  returned  in  safety, 
and  I  sent  him  immediately  to  Midland  county,  where  I  have 
men  at  work  at  the  salt  springs.  This  saved  me  an  arduous 
journey,  which  it  was  desirous  for  me  to  avoid  at  this  season 
of  the  year. 

Our  salt  springs  are  succeeding  well,  and  I  have  gained 
quite  a  victory  upon  a  subject  which  by  many  of  our  citizens 
was  regarded  as  visionary — but  no  matter  to  what  improve- 
ments out  attention  may  be  turned,  or  however  important, 
there  are  those  who  at  first  would  doubt  and  throw  cold  water. 

Although  I  do  not  propose  to  remove  to  Ann  Arbor  for 
the  present,  I  shall  spend  some  little  time  there  before  the 
winter  sets  in,  in  arranging  a  portion  of  the  collections.  This 
collection  of  specimens,  which  is  exceedingly  choice,  has  now 
been  a  long  time  in  boxes,  and  our  people  are  desirous  to 
have  a  portion  at  least  so  arranged  as  to  permit  examination. 

I  learned  by  Columbus  that  the  Misses  Oaks  will  remain 
at  your  house  for  a  time,  to  which  I  make  no  particular 
objection  if  they  prefer  to  do  so.  They  are  the  daughters  of 
an  old  and  particular  friend,  and  I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  their 
welfare.  They  will,  without  any  doubt,  make  good  progress 
in  their  stiidies  and  endear  themselves  to  our  people.  The 
young  boys  will  require  careful  watching,  and  above  all  they 
must  be  kept  apart  as  much  as  possible,  for  one  object  is  to 
break  up  all  association  as  much  as  can  be  done. 

I  hope  to  visit  you  in  the  spring,  when  on  my  way  to  the 
annual  convention  of  Geologists,  and  trust  to  make  a  longer 
visit  than  the  last  time.  Martha,  who  has  been  in  charge  of 
our  domestic  affairs  since  the  confinement  of  Mrs.  H., 
has  been  ill  from  fatigue,  but  is  now  quite  recovered.  Samuel 
Walker  and  Mr.  Snow  are  all  in  good  health  and  in  active 
business. 

Please  remember  me  to  mother  and  all  of  the  family,  as 
also  to  Misses  Oaks  and  the  young  boys,  not  forgetting  Charles 


132  APPENDIX. 

Morrison,  to  whom  I  wish  you  to  say,  that  I  look  to  him  to 
set  an  example  to  the  other  boys  of  manly  conduct,  associated 
with  studious  habits. 

Your  affectionate  son, 

DOUGLASS  HOUGHTOK 
JACOB  HOUGHTON, 

ISTew  York. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  133 


PAET  V. 


GENERAL  SUMMARY  AND  SYNOPSIS  OF  THE  WORK  DONE 
UNDER  THE  FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

The  following  summary  will  serve  to  show  the  great  extent 
of  the  field  covered  by  the  investigations  under  the  first 
organized  geological  survey,  the  amount  of  labor  involved, 
and  the  general  results  so  far  as  they  are  given  to  the  public 
in  the  annual  reports.  These  have  been  for  a  long  time 
entirely  out  of  print. 

As  since  the  close  of  that  survey,  by  the  untimely  death  of 
the  State  Geologist,  the  State  has  again  entered  upon  the 
detailed  work  of  geological  survey,  the  results  of  which  are 
before  the  public  in  several  printed  volumes,  covering  much 
of  the  same  ground,  it  is  deemed  unnecessary  to  republish 
more  fully  than  the  statements  here  contained. 

In  regard  to  a  portion,  however,  particularly  the  report  of 
1841,  the  matters  treated  of  being  not  only  original  but  so 
important  that  they  have  constituted  the  basis  of  all  subse- 
quent investigations,  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to 
republish  a  large  part  in  full. 


134  APPENDIX. 

SUMMARY  AND  SYNOPSIS  OF  THE  WORK  PERFORMED  BY  THE 
GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN    UNDER    ITS    FIRST 

ORGANIZATION. 


The  original  Act  for  the  organization  of  a  State  Geological 
Survey  was  approved  by  Governor  Mason,  February  23rd, 
1837.  (Laws  of  Michigan,  1837,  page  14.) 

It  provided  for  the  appointment  of  a  State  geologist,  and 
it  appropriated  annual  sums,  increasing  from  $3,000  the  first 
year  to  $12,000  the  fourth  year. 

Dr.  Douglass  Houghton,  of  Detroit,  received  from  Gov- 
ernor Mason  the  appointment,  and  his  first  report  was  made 
to  the  governor,  January  25th,  1838  (37  pages).  It  sets  forth 
that  at  as  early  a  day  as  a  sufficient  corps  could  be  organized 
the  geologist  proceeded  to  a  rapid  and  general  reconnoisance 
of  such  parts  of  the  State  as  the  limited  time  would  permit. 

These  examinations  had  chiefly  for  their  object  the 
determination  of  the  rock  formations,  their  extent  and  order 
of  super  position. 

Of  the  annual  reports  which  he  is  called  upon  to  make  he 
proceeds  to  say,  that  they  t(  should  only  embrace  a  brief 
abstract  of  such  facts  as  may  be  deemed  of  immediate  prac- 
tical importance  or  tend  to  a  general  development  of  the 
resources  of  the  State,  or  as  may  serve  to  show  the  progress 
of  the  survey,  for  which  reasons  these  portions  which  may 
be  considered  of  a*  strictly  scientific  character  will  be  omitted 
until  the  final  report  will  be  made." 

The  report  then  proceeds  to  describe  the  general  character 
of  the  peninsula,  particularly  of  its  northern  portion,  about 
which  much  misconception  prevails.  It  then  briefly  describes 
the  rocks  of  the  lower  peninsula,  the  superficial  extent  of 
country  occupied  by  them,  so  far  as  determined,  and  their 
places  of  outcrop.  These  pages  are  followed  by  a  particular 
account  of  the  brine  springs  of  the  State,  with  sundry 
analysis  and  comparisons  with  the  springs  of  other  States,  and 
some  practical  conclusions.  It  then  alludes  to  the  beginning 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  135 

made  in  the  departments  of  zoology  and  botany,  under  the 
direction  of  Doctor  Abram  Sager,  and  of  the  topographical 
map  of  the  counties  which  were  in  progress,  being  reduced 
from  the  original  returns  of  the  United  States  Survey. 

This  preliminary  report  was  followed  February  1st,  1838, 
by  an  appendix  containing,  uwith  a  view  to  facilitate  the 
progress  of  the  survey,  certain  queries  proposed  to  the  people 
of  the  State,  with  suggestions  to  the  proprietors  of  lands  that 
they  forward  to  Detroit  specimens  of  minerals,  rocks,  marls, 
peat,  petrifactions  and  soils,7'  all  which  was  intended  to 
interest  the  people,  and  draw  out  facts  for  future  investiga- 
tion. 

REORGANIZATION   AND   REPORT. 

During  the  winter  of  1837-8  the  survey  was  reorganized  on 
a  larger  basis  (Laws  of  1837-8,  p.  119),  and  with  particular 
reference  to  the  provision  made,  in  addition  to  the  geological 
department  proper,  for  zoological,  botanical  and  topographi- 
cal departments,  it  appropriated  the  annual  sum  of  $12,000 
for  the  years  1838  to  1841.  The  following  cprps  of  officers 
was  appointed  by  the  governor  on  the  nomination  of  the  State 
geologist: — 

Douglass  Hough  ton,  Geologist 

Abrarn  Sager,  in  charge  of  zoological  department. 

John  Wright,  in  charge  of  botanical  department. 

Sylvester  W.  Higgins,  topographer  and  draughtsman. 

Columbus  C.  Douglass,  assistant  to  the  geologist. 

Bela  Hubbard,  assistant  to  geologist. 

William  P.  Smith,  in  charge  of  mechanical  zoology. 

On  the  22nd  of  March,  1838  (Laws  of  1837  8,  p.  119),  a 
new  act  received  the  approval  of  the  governor,  reorganizing 
the  survey  on  a  more  comprehensive  plan,  and  with  more 
detailed  provisions.  Under  this  act,  January  1st,  1839,  the 


136  APPENDIX. 

State  Geologist  sends  to  the  legislature  a  report  (eight  pages) 
in  relation  to  the  improvement  of  State  salt  springs,  under  the 
provisions  of  an  act  approved  March  24th,  1838.  In  this  the 
geologist  refers  to  his  visit  to  the  principal  salt  wells  of  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  for  the  purpose  of  comparison 
and  analogy,  "  those  of  New  York  being  so  very  differently 
situated,  geologically,  that  a  satisfactory  comparison  with 
them  can  scarcely  be  instituted  at  this  time." 

He  describes  the  mode  of  occurrence  of  our  salt  springs, 
the  probable  depth  of  the  boring  required,  and  the  best 
method  of  improvement.  Details  are  given  of  the  prepara- 
tory work  done  on  Tittawawassee  Eiver  in  Midland  county, 
and  the  embarrassments  which  beset  operations,  owing  to  the 
unsettled  state  of  the  country,  the  distance  from  supplies,  and 
the  sickness  of  those  employed,  and  the  small  amount  of  the 
appropriation  for  this  purpose,  also  to  the  necessity  for  the 
presence  of  the  State  Geologist  in  person  at  other  and  remote 
points,  all  which  caused  temporary  abandonment  of  the  work. 

THE  SECOND  ANNUAL  REPORT 

was  made  to  the  legislature,  February  4th,  1839  (thirty-eight 
pages).  It  mentions  the  organization  of  the  geological  board, 
in  accordance  with  the  act  of  March  22nd,  1838,  "in  such  a 
manner  as  to  constitute  a  geological  and  mineralogical,  a 
zoological,  a  botanical  and  a  topographical  department.'7 

That  "the  heads  of  the  departments  took  the  field  at  an 
early  day  and  continued  their  arduous  duties  until  the 
inclemency  of  the  season  compelled  a  suspension  of  labor, 
since  which  time  they  have  been  busily  engaged  in  arranging 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  137 

a  great  amount  of  information  which  has  been  obtained  in 
such  a  manner  as  may  eventually  be  made  available." 

The  individual  labors  of  the  8tate  Geologist  had  been 
chiefly  devoted  to  an  examination  of  the  coast  of  those  por- 
tions of  our  State  bordering  on  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan; 
also  to  "  a  general  examination  of  some  of  the  central  and 
southern  counties,  preparatory  to  the  more  minute  examina- 
tion, which  has  been  commenced  and  which  it  is  proposed  to 
renew  with  the  first  opening  of  spring." 

This  report  of  the  geologist  details  the  topographical  and 
general  character  of  the  northern  portion  of  the  peninsula 
west  and  north  of  Saginaw  Bay,  a  portion  then  but  imper- 
fectly known,  and  also  the  general  character  of  the  rocks  of 
that  portion,  showing  their  line  of  bearing,  and  the  connection 
of  our  geology  with  that  of  the  neighboring  States. 

Special  remarks  follow  upon  the  clays,  marls  and  gypsum 
of  the  peninsula. 

An  interesting  portion  of  the  report  is  devoted  to  a  con- 
sideration of  the  change  of  elevation  in  the  waters  of  the 
great  lakes,  "  which  were  then  at  a  higher  point  than  had 
been  known  for  many  years,  a  subject  of  great  interest  prac- 
tically in  connection  with  lake  harbors  and  with  the  agricul- 
tural interest  of  the  State  "  Dr.  Houghton  distinguishes  the 
then  high  stage  of  the  waters,  from  the  fluctuations  due  to 
annual  and  temporary  causes.  Many  facts  are  stated,  going 
back  to  the  beginning  of  the  century.  In  leading  to  his  con- 
clusions, viz.,  that  the  increase  is  due  to  increased  rain  fall, 
he  points  out  the  fact  that  the  waters  of  the  interior  lakes  and 
streams  have  also  risen,  and  that  these  changes  have  not  been 
peculiar  to  Michigan,  but  manifested  over  the  whole  western 


138  APPENDIX. 

country.  He  refers  also  to  the  succession  of  cold  and  wet 
seasons  which  prevailed  in  1838. 

This  whole  subject  had  been  heretofore  clouded  in  much 
mystery  and  theory,  and  the  data  and  reasoning  of  Dr. 
Hough  ton  were  the  first  to  throw  light  on  the  real  causes.* 

Eeference  is  made  to  the  progress  of  the  geological  and  the 
botanical  departments,  and  to  the  collections  made  for  the 
University. 

In  the  topographical  department  maps  of  the  several 
counties  had  been  projected  on  a  scale  of  two  miles  to  the 
inch,  a  size  which  enables  him  to  place  upon  them  most  of 
that  information  which  will  be  required  for  the  use  of  town 
and  county  officers,  as  also  the  complete  geology  and  topo- 
graphy of  the  country.  "Upon  these  skeleton  plats  the 
assistants  were  required  to  fill  up  the  deficiencies,  and  return 
the  same  with  the  streams  carried  out  across  the  interior  of 
the  sections;  the  soils,  marshes,  timbered  lands,  openings, 
prairies,  woods,  etc.,  etc  ,  as  well  as^  the  geology  and  topo- 
graphy accurately  delineated. " 

The  documents  occupying  this  second  annual  report 
contain: 

No.  1  —  Eeport  of  Dr.  Abram  Sager,  zoologist  of  the 
survey.  Appended  to  his  report  Dr.  Sager  gives,  in  a  cata- 
logue of  ten  pages,  the  results  of  his  labors  in  his  department 
for  the  past  year,  being  of  such  mammals,  birds,  reptiles, 
amphibia  and  molusca  as  had  come  under  notice  in  the  State, 
and  adds  that  of  many  of  the  species  contained  the  requisite 

*It  may  please  the  interested  reader  to  find  the  whole  theory  of  lake  fluctuations 
practically  discussed  by  Bela  Hubbard,  in  his  "  Memorials  of  a  Half  Century,"  1888. 
He  has  had  the  advantage  of  half  a  century  of  observations  to  add  to  those  of  Dr. 
Houghton,  and  he  shows,  further,  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  connection  between  the 
lake  fluctuations  and  the  general  phenomena  of  climate  of  the  lake  region. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  139 

number  (the  law  required  seventeen  specimens  of  each  species 
to  be  preserved)  have  been  procured,  and  of  some  a  much 
larger  number  than  was  required,  with  a  view  to  exchanges. 
" Altogether  a  considerable  amount  of  material  has  been  col- 
lected towards  forming  a  history  of  the  subjects  of  our 
investigations.'7 

No.  2 — Report  of  Dr.  John  Wright,  botanist  of  the  survey, 
sets  forth  that  his  examinations  have  been  made  in  the  two 
most  southern  ranges  of  counties;  that  he  has  been  enabled  to 
examine  between  eight  hundred  and  nine  hundred  native  and 
naturalized  species  of  phenogamous  or  flowering  plants,  and 
to  collect  specimens  of  each,  amounting  in  all  to  about  nine 
thousand,  all  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation.  When 
not  too  large  the  entire  plant  is  preserved,  roots,  stems, 
leaves,  flowers  and  seeds.  He  confines  for  the  present  the 
notice  of  the  plants  to  a  catalogue  of  their  names,  reserving  a 
detailed  account  for  the  final  report.  This  catalogue  occupies 
twenty -eight  pages. 

No.  3 — Next  follows  report  of  S.  W.  Higgins,  topographer 
of  the  survey.  The  topographer  details  the  methods  pursued 
to  obtain  complete  maps  of  the  several  counties,  and  regrets 
the  absence  of  a  thorough  hydrographical  survey  of  the  lakes 
by  the  general  government.  This  had  been  commenced  when 
Gen.  Cass  occupied  the  war  department,  but  had  extended 
only  from  the  foot  of  Lake  Huron  to  Middle  Island.  (Since 
the  date  of  this  report  the  whole  chain  of  lakes  and  their 
connecting  rivers  has  been  systematically  and  accurately 
surveyed,  and  charts  published  showing  meanderings, 
windings,  etc.) 


140  APPENDIX. 

This  report  describes  with  much  detail  never  before  col- 
lected, the  situation  of  Michigan  relatively  to  other  portions 
of  the  continent,  and  to  the  mountain  chains,  table  lands, 
streams,  etc.,  giving  tables  of  elevations,  and  depths  and 
areas  of  all  the  lakes. 

It  touches  upon  the  subject  notably  treated  by  Dr.  Hough- 
ton,  of  the  great  rise  in  the  waters  of  the  lake  during  the  last 
five  years,  with  some  data  extending  back  to  1814,  and  comes 
to  the  same  conclusion,  that  the  causes  must  be  looked  for  in 
the  increased  quantity  of  rain  fall.  Accompanying  this 
report  was  a  map  of  the  State,  exhibiting  projections  of  all 
the  levels  which  had  been  taken  across  the  State,  in  the  course 
of  engineering  operations  on  the  various  works  of  public 
improvements;  also  the  general  profile  of  heights  collected 
from  all  sources  and  tabulated  for  reference.  He  states  that 
1  i  maps  of  twenty  counties  are  in  a  state  of  forwardness,  five 
being  finished,  to  which  during  the  next  year  a  large  number 
would  be  added."  Drawings  will  also  be  given  of  such 
remains  of  ancient  works  and  tumuli  as  are  scattered  through 
St.  Joseph,  Kalamazoo  and  other  counties. 

No.  4 — Eeport  of  C.  C.  Douglass,  assistant  geologist. 
Gives  details  of  the  geology,  etc.,  of  the  central  counties, 
including  examinations  of  the  coal  district;  the  coal  beds  of 
Ingham  and  Eaton  counties,  with  their  associated  rock  forma- 
tions are  particularly  described.  Much  information  of  a 
practical  nature  is  embodied,  relative  to  the  soils,  rocks, 
marls,  springs,  timber,  etc. 

No.  5 — Eeport  of  Bela  Hubbard,  assistant  geologist. 
Includes  the  supervision  of  Wayne  and  Monroe  counties, 
their  general  topographical  and  geological  features,  their 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  141 

rocks,  clays,  soils,  and  agricultural  characters.  The  report 
refers  to  the  subject  then  of  so  great  an  interest,  the  encroach- 
ment of  the  lake  waters  during  the  past  two  years.  He  says, 
"Many  acres  of  formerly  arable  lands  in  both  counties  are 
now  embraced  by  the  waters.  Numbers  of  orchards,  the 
growth  of  a  century,  have  become  a  prey  to  the  flood,  and 
families  of  the  old  French  inhabitants  are  driven  from  the 
homes  till  now  occupied  from  childhood."*  It  alludes  to 
remedies  which  may  be  resorted  to,  to  afford  protection 
against  these  encroachments.  Some  important  remarks  are 
made  regarding  road  constructions,  and  in  derogation  of  the 
inadequate  methods  usually  obtaining. 

A  glossary  of  geological  terms  closes  the  document. 

THE  THIRD   ANNUAL   REPORT  OF  THE  STATE  GEOLOGIST 

(thirty  pages)  was  made  to  the  legislature  February  3d,  1840. 
It  gives  a  general  description  of  the  topography  and  geology 
of  the  southern  slope  of  the  upper  peninsula,  to  which  the 
formal  attention  of  the  State  Geologist  was  principally 
directed  during  the  season  of  1839.  This  embraces  the 
numerous  and  intricate  islands  and  channels  skirting  the 
north  shore  of  Lake  Huron  and  in  the  Ste.  Marie's  Eiver,  and 
the  range  of  hills  extending  westwardly  from  this  river  as 
far  as  Bay  du  Noquet.  In  this  district  of  Michigan  is 
embraced  that  interesting  group  of  limestones  and  sandstones 
now  included  within  the  Paleoozoic  times,  as  upper  and  lower 
Silurian  rocks.  The  limestones  are  characterized  by  abun- 
dant fossil  remains,  of  which  a  large  collection  was  made. 
The  lowest  rocks  of  this  series  is  the  Lake  Superior  sandstone. 


*See  note  page  138. 


142  APPENDIX. 

The  true  position  of  this  rock  has  been  subject  of  dispute 
among  geologists,  but  it  was  shown  by  Dr.  Houghton  to  rest 
upon  the  primary  or  azoic  rocks,  and  to  be  referable  to  the 
Potsdam  sandstone  of  New  York. 

A  few  pages  of  the  report  are  given  to  the  clay  ironstone 
of  Branch  county,  and  the  bog  ore  of  Kalamazoo  and  other 
counties,  which  the  State  Geologist  was  particularly  instructed 
to  examine.  The  gypsum  and  inarl  beds  of  the  State  are 
again  referred  to,  and  a  general  reference  to  the  geological 
and  topographical  departments,  which  in  the  plan  of  organ- 
ization are  mutually  dependent. 

The  Geologist  refers  to  the  departments  of  zoology  and 
botany,  which  unfortunately,  owing  to  the  failure  of  adequate 
appropriation,  consequent  upon  the  embarrassed  condition  of 
the  State  finances,  had  become  suspended  by  the  resignation 
of  the  assistants  in  those  departments. 

The  documents  accompanying  the  third  annual  report, 
contained: 

No.  1 — Eeport  of  S.  W.  Higgins,  topographer,  January 
12,  1840,  accompanied  by  an  engraved  map  of  Wayne  county, 
illustrative  of  the  scale  and  method  adopted  for  the  county 
maps  in  progress.  The  topographer  states  that  since  the  date 
of  his  last  annual  communication  his  time  has  been  occupied 
in  the  drafting  office,  mostly  in  compiling  and  adapting  to  the 
scales  of  the  proposed  maps  the  details  of  information  fur- 
nished in  the  progress  of  the  geological  survey  and  of  the 
United  States  linear  surveys.  Among  the  most  arduous  of 
the  labors  of  the  department  was  the  procuring  of  copies  of 
almost  all  the  original  patents.  The  importance  of  these  is 
shown  by  many  instances  of  conflict  between  these  original 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  143 

patents  and  the  section  lines  of  the  subsequent  United  States 
surveys,  by  the  fact  that  of  130,000  acres  of  these  lands,  "no 
maps  existed  which  can  be  in  any  manner  depended  upon, 
while  these  lands  include  a  large  portion  of  the  coast  line 
from  Monroe  to  Lake  Huron. 

He  enumerates  the  following  counties  as  among  those  of 
which  the  material  of  the  maps  in  progress  are  completed  or 
nearly  so,  viz.,  Wayne,  Jackson,  Lenawee,  Calhoun,  Branch, 
St.  Joseph,  Cass,  Berrien,  Livingston,  Washtenaw,  Ingham, 
Eaton,  Hillsdale,  Monroe,  Oakland,  Genessee,  Ionia,  Kalama- 
zoo  and  Van  Buren. 

The  concluding  seven  pages  of  this  report  contain  items 
of  information  whose  interest  is  not  diminished  but  rather 
increased  by  the  lapse  of  time.  They  are,  therefore,  here 
copied  in  full: — 

Roads  and  Highways. 

The  roads  and  highways  of  our  State  claim  a  remark,  as 
excelling  in  many  particulars  those  of  the  east,  both  in 
respect  to  their  uniform  grades  and  their  passable  condition 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  The  cause  of  the  first  mentioned 
superiority  is  common  to  most  of  the  western  country,  viz., 
the  even  and  level  nature  of  the  surface,  which  is  at  most 
gently  undulating  or  rolling,  with  the  total  absence  of 
mountains  or  high  hills.  The  second  arises  from  the  nature 
of  the  soil,  it  usually  containing  much  sand  and  gravel  in  its 
composition. 

The  roads  in  the  openings  and  plains  offer  to  the  traveler 
a  variety  of  routes,  with  the  choice  of  diverging  at  pleasure, 
the  scattered  oaks  leaving  sufficient  space  between  for  the 
passage  of  horses  or  carriages,  while  the  prairie  is  one  wide, 
unbounded  highway,  where  no  obstacle  is  present  for  pursu- 
ing whichever  course  curiosity  may  direct.  These  roads 


144  APPENDIX. 

require  the  expenditure  of  little  or  no  labor  to  keep  them  in 
repair. 

The  only  exception  to  the  above  remark  is  found  in  those 
roads  which,  commencing  at  the  different  frontier  towns  on 
the  eastern  coasts,  lead  across  a  low,  timbered  belt  of  country 
for  the  distance  of  six,  ten  and  fifteen  miles,  and  where  the 
soil,  as  in  some  other  districts,  is  clay.  In  these  districts 
they  require  to  be  worked  at  no  inconsiderable  expense,  to 
keep  them  passable  during  the  wet  periods  of  the  fall  and 
spring.  ~i" 

The  Chicago  Turnpike  or  Trail. 

Among  the  most  noted  of  the  highways  of  the  State,  the 
" Chicago  road"  claims  a  particular  notice.  It  was  formerly 
to  the  western  tribes  of  Indians,  the  Sauks,  Foxes,  Winne- 
bagoes,  Menomonees,  Potawatamies,  etc.,  what  the  national 
road  from  Cumberland  to  St.  Louis  now  is  to  the  whites. 
They  were  constantly  traversing  ifc  in  periods  of  war  and 
peace,  or  when  treaties  were  negotiating  and  different  and 
distinct  tribes  were  to  be  represented. 

The  Sauks  from  the  Mississippi,  in  great  numbers,  in  late 
years  were  accustomed,  by  this  route,  to  reach  Fort  Maiden 
to  receive  their  annuities  from  the  British  government. 

There  were  no  parallel  trails  across  the  peninsula,  and  the 
trails  from  the  Potawatamies  in  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and 
from  the  Foxes,  and  Menomonees,  etc.,  of  the  northwest,  all 
joined  near  the  south  bend  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  uniting 
into  one  led  directly  to  Detroit. 

Persons  even  well  acquainted  with  the  appearance  of  an 
ordinary  Indian  path  are  astonished  at  the  width  and  depth 
of  the  track  which  is  visible  in  places  to  this  day. 

Such  was  the  directness  and  facility  of  this  route  that  the 
United  States  made  an  appropriation  some  time  after  the 
erection  of  a  territorial  government  for  the  northwest,  causing 
a  survey  to  be  made  of  it  from  Detroit  to  Chicago,  and  letting 
it  in  sections  for  the  construction  of  a  turnpike. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  145 

• 

This  trail  is  supposed  to  be  as  long  as  any  other  within  the 
territory  of  the  United  States,  being  two  hundred  and  forty 
miles  from  Detroit  to  the  point  where  it  received  those  diverg- 
ing trails  from  the  south  and  north-west,  and  the  length  of 
some  of  its  branches  cannot  be  less  than  three  hundred  miles 
further,  while*  numerous  smaller  ones  enter  from  different 
directions,  by  which  means  the  early  pioneers  of  the  west 
easily  threaded  their  way  through  these  regions,  and  into  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi  beyond. 

Natural  Woods  of  Michigan. 

The  arrangement  which  this  subject  calls  for  properly 
belongs  to  the  department  of  botany.  Nevertheless,  without 
attending  to  the  details  which  should  accompany  a  catalogue 
of  an  entire  flora,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  exhibit  generally  the 
geographical  boundaries  of  such  of  the  larger  productions  as 
are  required  for  constant  use,  either  in  farming,  building,  or 
for  the  market. 

Oak  is  the  predominant  growth  of  the  peninsula.  Among 
the  varieties,  the  white  is  in  the  greatest  abundance. 

The  shingle  or  laurel  oak,  and  the  red  oak,  are  next 
abundant.  And  the  burr  oak,  though  not  usually  found 
intermixed  in  common  with  the  other  varieties,  abounds,  not- 
withstanding, over  extensive  areas,  not  unfrequently  to  the 
exclusion  of  other  kinds. 

The  surest  indication  of  a  good  soil  accompanies  the  last 
mentioned,  and  the  finest  and  largest  crops  of  wheat  are  there 
produced,  for  the  reason  that  the  soil  contains  a  larger  amount 
of  calcareous  matter. 

Dividing  the  peninsula  by  an  east  and  west  line,  nearly 
corresponding  to  that  of  the  northern  railroad,  a  botanical 
map  would  represent  the  northern  portion  as  having  by  far 
the  greatest  burthen  of  timber,  possessing  a  proportionable 
quantity  of  the  different  varieties  found  elsewhere  in  the 
State. 

Marked  limits  may  be  given  to  those  districts  in  the 
southern  portion,   where  a  few  groves  of  pines  are  found. 
(10) 


146  APPENDIX. 

Their  localities  are  in  the  vicinity  of  the  water  courses  of  Kent 
and  Ottawa  counties,  and  among  the  timbered  lands  of 
Allegan,  extending  in  comparatively  small  tracts  along  the 
borders  of  Lake  Michigan,  nearly  to  New  Buffalo,  in  Berrien. 
In  crossing  the  State  through  the  interior  counties  none  are 
met,  until  reaching  the  central  part  of  Genesee,  Lapeer  and 
St.  Clair.  Here  they  are  again  found  in  the  same  range  of 
northern  townships,  where  they  first  occur,  in  the  counties 
before  mentioned. 

North  of  this  belt  or  zone,  which  is  the  natural  boundary 
between  the  oak  openings  and  plains  of  the  south,  the  forest 
abounds  promiscuously  with  the  white,  yellow  and  Norway 
pine,  white  cedar,  tamarack,  ash,  oak,  birch,  sugar  maple, 
sycamore,  beech,  lynn,  elm,  white  wood,  black  walnut,  etc. 

There  are,  however,  extensive  districts  nearly  continuous 
from  Ottawa,  Kent,  and  Ionia  counties,  northward,  of  open- 
ings and  small  prairies,  particularly  a  few  miles  inland  from 
White  Eiver,  and  from  Great  and  Little  Sable  points.  But 
on  ascending  the  Maskego  Eiver  until  reaching  its  source, 
thence  north,  on  both  sides  of  the  Principal  Meridian,  exten- 
sive tracts  occur,  in  many  instances  free  from  a  mixture  of 
other  timber,  while  in  other  places  the  sugar  maple  and 
beech  are  not  unfrequently  found  commingled  with  pines  of 
immense  girth. 

The  fact  of  the  white  wood  and  black  walnut  accompany- 
ing the  sugar  and  beech,  as  seen  occupying  the  districts 
inland,  from  the  Sable  points,  in  towns  13,  14,  15,  16  and  17 
north  of  ranges  14,  15,  16,  17  and  18  west,  would,  to  the  most 
ordinary  agriculturist,  demonstrate  the  superiority  of  the 
soil,  and,  when  taken  in  connection  with  the  limited  tracts  of 
oak  openings  and  the  great  amount  of  the  most  valuable 
timber,  it  seems  difficult  to  determine  any  preference  of  the 
southern  over  the  northern  portions  of  the  State. 

The  soil  is  not  considered  of  so  good  a  quality  on  the  east- 
ern side  of  the  peninsula,  immediately  along  the  shore  of 
Lake  Huron,  owing  to  its  low,  level  and  sandy  qualities,  con- 
sisting chiefly  of  the  debris  of  sand  rock.  Consequently  the 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  147 

timber  is  generally  stunted,  and  consists,  in  greater  propor- 
tion, of  birch,  tamarack  and  cedar. 

Where  pine  occurs  it  is  mostly  too  small  to  be  profitably 
made  use  of.  But  at  every  advance  inland  both  improve. 

The  face  of  the  country  throughout  the  northern  interior 
is  high  and  rolling,  or  undulating,  and  appears  to  one 
acquainted  with  the  southern  part  of  the  peninsula  to  bear  a 
close  resemblance  in  its  general  contour. 

It  may  be  considered,  then,  as  a  question  fully  decided, 
that  more  than  one-half  of  the  State  is  heavily  timbered,  in 
that  part  lying  above  the  northern  railroad;  that  the  sugar 
and  pine  are  here  the  most  common,  as  well  as  the  most  valu- 
able timber;  that  the  other  kinds  are  found  in  situations 
equivalent  to  their  occurrence  further  south,  upon  streams 
and  bottom  lands,  or  upon  plains  and  openings. 

No  tree  is  held  in  higher  estimation  by  the  Indians  than 
the  sugar  maple,  and  no  source  of  complaint  is  more  grievous 
than  a  separation  from  it  by  removal  to  places  where  it  is  not 
found. 

The  pine,  if  not  wasted  or  wantonly  destroyed  by  fire  or 
otherwise,  will  furnish  an  abundant  supply  for  a  long  time  to 
come. 

Variation  of  the  Magnetic  Needle. 

The  surveys  of  Michigan  were  intended  to  correspond 
with  the  true  meridian,  excepting  those  of  Mr.  Greely,  before 
mentioned,  which  were  made  without  an  observation  to  deter- 
mine the  true  north.  There  appears,  however,  a  variation 
between  his  first  and  last  surveys  of  about  one  degree. 

This  difference  is  palpable  on  tracing  the  lines  along  the 
first  donation  lands,  to  the  rear  of  the  "back  concessions,'7  so 
called,  but  the  time  which  elapsed  between  running  the  front 
and  rear  lines  may  account  for  this  in  some  measure,  being 
about  three  years,  during  which,  it  is  well  known,  there  must 
have  been  a  greater  or  less  alteration  in  the  magnetic  meri- 
dian. The  needle,  in  this  instance,  was  attracted  westward. 


148  APPENDIX. 

Mysterious  as  the  movement  of  this  instrument  is  ac- 
counted to  be,  were  greater  attention  devoted  to  an  examina  • 
tion  of  the  causes  that  effect  it,  instead  of  a  diminished 
confidence  in  many  of  its  results,  its  habits,  though  governed 
no  doubt  by  a  subtle  influence,  would  be  intimately  known, 
and  its  uses  appreciated  accordingly.  The  rights  of  our 
citizens  to  their  property  is  closely  connected  with  this 
inquiry. 

Columbus,  in  his  first  voyage  to  America,  first  noticed  the 
deflection  of  the  needle,  and  since  that  time  the  subject  has 
engaged  the  unceasing  attention  of  the  scientific,  particularly 
for  the  last  few  years,  insomuch  that  measures  are  now  taken, 
both  in  Europe  and  America,  to  investigate  fully  the  causes 
which  are  known  constantly  to  affect  it. 

In  1835  the  line  of  no  variation  was  known  to  run  longi- 
tudinally through  about  the  middle  of  Lake  Huron,  the  varia- 
tion on  the  shore  twelve  miles  above  the  foot  of  the  lake  was 
6  min.  east;  on  Pointe  aux  Barques,  in  lat.  43  deg.  51  min.  36 
sec. ;  seventy  miles  from  the  foot  of  the  lake  it  was  1  deg. 
38  min. ;  twenty  miles  west  of  Pte  aux  Barques  on  the  same 
parallel  it  was  2  deg.  6  min. ;  farther  west,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Saginaw  River,  in  lat.  43  deg.  36  min.  30  sec.,  2  deg.  19 
min.  east;  at  the  same  time  it  was  2  deg.  10  min.  at  Detroit, 
lat.  42  deg.  18  min. 

This  line  of  no  variation,  has  had,  for  the  last  eighteen 
years,  a  slow  and  perceptible  movement  westward,  whereby 
continual  changes  are  observable  in  the  magnetic  meridian. 

The  rate  of  movement,  from  1810  to  1322,  was  from  2  deg. 
48  min.  to  3  deg.  13  min.  22  sec.,  equal  to  25  min.  22  sec. 
increase  of  east  variation.  From  1812  to  1828  a  decrease 
from  3  deg.  13  min.  22  sec.  to  2  deg.  50  min. ;  (yearly  differ- 
ence, 4  4-10)  and  for  the  last  twelve  years,  up  to  1840,  a 
decrease  2  deg.,  50  min.  to  2  deg.  ;  (yearly  difference,  4  min. 
10  sec.)  2  deg.  being  the  variation  at  this  time  at  Detroit, 
where  the  above  observations  were  taken. 

The  progress  made  in  the  surveys  of  the  public  lands 
during  the  last  three  years  has  further  developed  this  subject. 


FIRST   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  149 

In  1837,  on  Lake  Michigan,  near  the  mouth  of  Grand 
Eiver,  the  variation  was  4  deg.  30  min.  east;  thirty  miles 
north,  on  the  south  side  of  Little  Point  aux  Sable,  it  was  6 
deg.  15  min.  east;  and  twelve  miles  further,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  same  point,  6  deg.  00  min.;  at  the  mouth  of  Pierre 
Marquette  Eiver,  seventy- eight  miles  above  Grand  Eiver,  4 
deg.  34  min.  east. 

In  1838  the  north  boundary  of  town  twenty-four  north, 
range  16  west,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  ninety- nine 
miles  above  Grand  Eiver,  in  lat.  44  deg.  31  min.,  it  was  4 
deg.  30  min.  east;  thirty  miles  east  on  the  same  parallel,  2 
deg.  50  min.  east;  sixty  miles  east  on  the  same  parallel,  2  deg. 
45  min.  east;  ninety  miles  east,  same  parallel,  at  the  principal 
meridian,  2  deg.  east. 

The  magnetic  meridian  of  Detroit,  then,  would  pass  at 
this  time  diagonally  across  the  State,  having  a  bearing  from 
Detroit  to  the  mouth  of  Saginaw  Eiver,  thence  to  where  the 
township  line  number  twenty-four  intersects  the  principal 
meridian,  passing  off  the  northern  boundary  of  the  State  into 
Lake  Michigan  near  the  Little  Traverse  Bay,  and  intersecting 
the  western  extreme  of  Point  Wabashance. 

Further  data  could  be  furnished  were  it  thought  necessary, 
but  the  foregoing  is  presumed  to  be  sufficient  to  call  the  atten- 
tion of  practical  surveyors  to  the  importance  of  accurately 
making  and  recording  their  observations. 

Diurnal  Variation. 

Besides  the  absolute  variation,  a  daily  motion  has  been 
observed  constantly  to  accompany  the  needle. 

The  amount  of  this  variation  corresponds  to  the  tempera- 
ture, and  therefore  at  the  period  of  the  united  heat  of  the 
earth  and  atmosphere  the  diurnal  variation  will  be  greatest. 
This  variation  tends  to  increase  the  absolute  western,  and 
decrease  the  eastern  variation,  because  the  north  end  of  the 
needle  in  this  case  invariably  points  to  the  west. 

Messrs.  John  Mullett  and  W.  A.  Burt  are  the  only  gentle- 
men who  have  communicated  to  me  their  observations.  These 


150  APPENDIX. 

were  made  without  a  thermometer  to  determine  the  degree  of 
temperature,  yet  during  several  summers,  the  correspondence 
of  their  observations,  with  those  made  elsewhere,  agree  as  to 
the  amount  of  variation,  the  mean  of  August  and  September, 
being  14  min.  Mr.  Burt  found  the  maximum  for  one  day  40 
min.,  but  it  is  probable  that  other  causes  were  in  combination. 

Errors  Arising  from  Incorrect  Observations. 

The  known  inaccuracy  of  the  first  public  surveys,  un- 
doubtedly arose  from  errors  in  making  observations  to  ascer- 
tain the  variation,  and  shows  a  recklessness  to  obligation, 
which  was  probably  induced  by  the  newness  of  the  country, 
and  apparent  distance  of  detection. 

The  fairest  portion  of  the  State  was  subdivided  with  this 
evident  want  of  skill,  and  with  a  carelessness  in  the  first 
surveyor*  which  has  already  resulted  in  a  vast  amount  of 
trouble  and  absolute  loss,  to  a  portion  of  our  citizens. 

The  area  embraced  by  these  surveys  may  be  traced  on  the 
map,  commencing  at  the  south  boundary  of  the  State;  thence 
northward  forty  eight  miles  to  the  base  line;  thence  fifty-four 
miles  up  to  town  No.  9,  N  ;  thus  passing  along  the  meridian 
of  seventeen  towns,  of  six  miles  square.  Eange  lines,  inter- 
secting these  meridians  at  right  angles,  were  also  begun  at  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  State,  at  the  principal  meridian, 
and  closing 'on  the  eastern  border  of  the  State. 

The  lines  throughout  this  whole  tract  were  run  at  a  varia- 
tion differing  but  little  from  4  deg.  39  min. 

The  error  lies  in  a  too  great  variation  of  about  1  deg.  30 
min.,  as  is  proved: 

1st.  By  platting  these  surveys  in  connection  with  those 
since  made,  where  a  convergency,  too  great,  of  two  miles  is 
observable  on  a  meridian  of  fifty  miles. 


*Mr.  Wampler. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF    MICHIGAN.  151 

2d.  By  the  incorrect  manner  in  which  the  surveys  them- 
selves close;  in  many  instances,  a  difference  of  2  deg.  and  3 
deg.  being  necessary  to  meet  the  exigence. 

3d.  From  the  records  of  actual  observations,  made  both 
before  and  since. 

4th.  From  the  improbability  of  the  variation  ever  having 
been  so  great  at  or  near  Detroit. 

In  1810,  Col.  Jared  Mansfield  records  the  variation  at 
Detroit,  at  2  deg.  48  min.  00  sec.  east. 

In  1822  Messrs.  Mullett  and  Lyon,  do.,  3  deg.  13  min.  22 
sec.  east. 

Between  the  time  of  the  above  two  observations,  during 
the  years  1816,  '  17  and  '  18,  the  error  was  committed,  and  if 
Mr.  Wampler,  who  performed  the  surveying,  was  right,  then 
from  1810  to  1816  the  variation  had  increased  from  2  deg.  48 
min.  to  4  deg.  39  min.,  making  a  difference  of  1  deg.  51  min. 
in  six  years,  or  equal  to  18  min  30  sec.  each  year,  an  unheard 
of  phenomenon  on  this  meridian,  when  it  is  further  considered 
that  in  1828  it  was  reduced  to  2  deg.  50  min.,  decreasing  in  a 
ratio  of  4  4-10  min.  per  year  only,  and  4  min.  10  sec.  being 
the  average  annual  decrease  since  that  time. 

I  am  inclined  to  attribute  the  error  to  a  neglect  of  observ- 
ing the  motion  of  the  north  star  at  the  time  of  observation. 
This  star  revolves  around  the  pole  once  in  23  hours  and  56 
minutes,  and  when  at  its  greatest  eastern  or  western  elonga- 
tion is  1  deg.  34  min.,  nearly,  from  the  pole.  The  western 
elongation  was,  no  doubt,  substituted  for  the  meridian,  which 
it  was  intended  to  observe,  whereby  the  error  occurred. 

Little,  if  any,  attention  was  afterwards  manifested  to  cor- 
recting this  error,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  a  suspicion 
existed  in  regard  to  it,  for  being  satisfied  with  having  obtained 
an  observation  at  one  point  at  the  beginning  of  the  survey, 
three  years  were  afterward  consumed  in  establishing  town 
lines,  without  an  alteration  of  5  min.  of  a  degree,  advancing 


152  APPENDIX. 

with  each  line  westerly  over  a  space  of  100  miles,  as  in  the 
instance  of  towns  Nos.  17  N. 

Now,  so  far  as  the  best  information  collected  up  to  this 
time  in  regard  to  the  increase  of  magnetic  variation  (which  is 
stated  by  Prof.  Loomis  in  the  American  Journal  of  Science, 
Vol.  34,  to  be  about  1  deg.  in  60  English  miles),  these  lines  on 
the  western  boundary  of  the  survey  should  have  been  run  at 
a  variation  of  1  deg.  40  min.  greater  than  on  the  eastern. 
Hence  arises  the  cause  of  that  series  of  fractional  townships 
adjoining  the  principal  meridian,  throughout  the  extent  of 
this  survey. 

Decrease  of  Elevation  in  the  Waters  of  the  Lakes. 

All  that  is  necessary  to  observe  on  this  subject  is  a  notice 
of  the  decrease  in  the  level  of  the  waters  of  the  great  lakes 
during  the  past  year. 

It  is  a  question,  I  believe,  satisfactorily  determined  at  the 
present  time  that  there  exists  no  perceptible  tide 'in  them 
which  can  be  referable  to  planitary  influence,  yet  for  a  long 
time  to  come,  it  is  presumed,  the  ordinary  fluctuations  pro- 
duced by  atmospheric  agency  will  be  considered  a  tidal  wave, 
nor  will  the  persuasion  be  easily  dismissed  that  so  great  an 
expanse  of  water  can  remain  unaffected  at  least  to  some 
degree'. 

The  question  is  also  as  fully  determined  as  to  their  general 
rise  for  a  succession  of  years,  and  then  their  general  subsid- 
ence to  a  certain  minimum,  the  actual  degree  of  which  as  well 
as  the  maximum,  were  not  recorded  previous  to  the  year 
eighteen  hundred. 

Their  elevation  in  1838  was  given  in  my  report  of  last 
year.  The  waters  had  then  attained  to  five  feet  three  inches. 
This  proved  to  be  a  greater  flood  than  had  occurred  within  the 
last  century. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN. 


153 


Table  of  elevation  and  depression  in  the  waters  of  the  Lakes,  com- 
pared with  that  of  June  7,  1819, 


Feet. 

Inches 

Feet. 

Inches 

August  21,  1838,  highest  stage, 

5 

03 

September,      "     decrease, 

0 

03 

5 

00 

October,          "            " 

0 

09 

4 

03 

November,      " 

1 

00 

3 

03 

December,      "            "        same, 

3 

03 

January,      1839,         " 

1 

08 

1 

07 

June  10,          "     increase, 

2 

01 

3 

08 

July  31,           "            " 

0 

03 

3 

11 

Sept.  20,          "     decrease. 

0 

09 

3 

02 

Oct.  28,           "            " 

0 

09 

2 

05 

Nov.  27,          "            "        same, 

2 

05 

Jan.  30,  1830,               " 

1 

08 

0 

09 

No.  2— Eeport  of  C.  C.  Douglass,  assistant  geologist,  Jan. 
12,  1840.  This  report  states  that  the  time  of  the  assistant  has 
been  chiefly  occupied  with  a  detailed  examination  of  the 
northern  and  western  counties  so  far  as  the  United  States 
surveys  had  extended. 

After  describing  many  extensive  deposits  of  marl  and 
clays,  Mr.  Douglass  describes  the  coal  bearing  rocks  included 
in  one  division  of  these  counties,  with  observations  upon  the 
range  and  extent  of  this  series  of  rocks  in  this  State.  Local 
details  are  given  of  the  lower  and  upper  coal  groups  and  their 
associated  sand  and  lime  rocks  and  shales,  with  sections  of  the 
rocks  at  various  localities. 

No.  3 — Eeport  of  B.  Hubbard,  assistant  geologist,  Jan.  12, 
1840,  details  his  examinations  in  the  southern  range  of 
counties,  mostly  west  of  the  principal  meridian.  These 
examinations  have  embraced  the  collection  of  all  facts  of  a 
geological  and  agricultural  character  which  could  serve  to 
illustrate  the  capabilities  of  the  soil,  and  the  general  wealth 


154  APPENDIX. 

and  resources  of  the  conntry.  In  connection  with  these 
objects  he  adds,  "I  have  been  able  to  fill  up  the  skeleton 
maps  furnished  by  the  State  Topographer  of  each  town  in  the 
several  counties,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  afford  at  once  a  com- 
plete view  of  the  soils,  timber  and  topographical  details, 
courses  of  streams,  village  and  mill  seats,  and  all  recorded 
roads  of  the  townships,  to  correct  errors  in  streams  and  lakes 
arising  from  inaccurate  surveys,  and  to  plat  a  great  number  of 
lakes,  streams,  etc.,  which  were  altogether  omitted  in  the 
notes  of  the  original  survey.  The  topographical  features  of 
the  district  are  described  in  general,  the  extent  of  timber, 
soils  and  scenery,  followed  by  the  general  geological  structure 
of  that  part  of  the  State,  with  such  economical  considerations 
as  are  deducible.  A  table  is  given  of  the  superposition  of 
rock  strata  in.  Hillsdale  county,  some  account  of  the  extensive 
tertiary  and  diluvial  deposits,  with  the  accompanying  clays, 
marls,  peats,  tufas,  bog  ores,  boulders  and  conglomerates. 
Mr.  Hubbard  describes  an  ancient  lake  ridge,  whose  course 
was  traced  for  more  than  sixty  miles,  parallel  to  Lake  Erie 
and  Detroit  Eiver.  This  ridge  had  a  width  of  several  hun- 
dred feet,  a  somewhat  conical  form,  and  a  height  of  about 
twelve  or  fifteen  feet  above  the  flat  land  on  the  lake  side.  It 
is  composed  of  layers  of  coarse  and  fine  gravel  and  beach  sand 
reposing  upon  the  clays  which  constitute  the  subsoil  of  the 
contiguous  country.  No  doubt  remains  that  this  ridge  once 
constituted  the  boundary  of  an  immense  expanse  of  water, 
which  became  afterwards  circumscribed  to  the  dimensions  of 
the  present  lake.  It  is  ascertained  that  this  ridge  has  a 
uniform  elevation  above  Lake  Erie  of  107  or  108  feet. 

"It  is  plain  that  this  ridge  could  not  have  been  formed 
during  that  turbulent  state  of  the  waters  which  brought  upon 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  155 

the  rock  covered  surface  of  the  country  its  immense  deposit 
of  diluvium,  but  must  have  resulted  from  a  quiescent  state  of 
the  waters. "  He  then  proceeds  to  speculate  upon  the  results 
of  the  supposed  elevation  of  the  waters  of  the  lake  to  the 
height  of  this  ridge,  in  the  distribution  of  land  and  water 
surfaces,  and  the  immensely  broad  and  continuous  sea  which 
must  have  filled  the  valleys  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Mis- 
sissippi, "in  which  whatever  of  dry  land  remained  were  as 
islands  in  the  deep.  But  one  theory  is  possible,  namely,  that 
the  elevation  of  the  lakes  relatively  to  the  land  was  the  result, 
not  of  their  increased  actual  elevation  but  of  the  diminished 
elevation  of  the  land  itself. 

"The  facts  and  suppositions  above  stated  lead  to  several 
important  conclusions  in  determining  the  alluvial  deposits  of 
the  peninsula  as  distinguished  from  those  which  are  classed  as 
diluvials,  and  they  indicate  three  great  eras  since  the  forma- 
tion of  the  newest  rocks. 

"1st.  After  the  elevatory  process  had  commenced  and  land 
appeared  above  the  surface,  at  this  period  was  formed  the 
immense  mass  of  diluviums. 

"2d.  When  the  upheaving  force  became  stationary  at 
successive  intervals,  during  which  periods  lake  alluvions  would 
be  forming  over  the  area  then  occupied  by  the  waters. 

"3d.  The  era  of  present  levels,  when  the  lakes  assumed 
their  present  forms  in  successive  order,  beginning  with  the 
most  elevated." 


Jan.  9,  1840,  the  State  Geologist  presented  a  report  rela- 
tive to  the  improvement  of  salt  springs  (seven  pages). 


156  APPENDIX. 

The  subject  details  the  steps  which  had  been  taken  for  the 
erection  of  the  machinery  required  for  the  borings  at  the 
State  salt  wells ;  the  contract  made  with  a  practical  mechanic 
from  Kenawha,  Virginia;  the  failure  of  the  contractor  to 
fulfil  his  undertaking,  in  consequence  of  assigned  fears  as  to 
the  health  of  the  country,  and  he  details  embarrassments 
which  beset  the  prosecution  of  the  work,  and  the  onerous 
duties  devolving  on  him  as  State  Geologist,  which  prevented 
absolutely  a  personal  direction  of  the  improvements  in 
progress. 

After  giving  an  account  of  the  condition  of  the  buildings, 
shops  and  engines  at  the  Tittabawassee  and  Grand  Eiver 
borings  and  the  extent  of  the  borings  accomplished,  and  that 
a  point  had  been  reached  where  the  expense  in  future  would 
be  comparatively  small,  he  states  that  in  consequence  of  the 
embarrassments  existing  in  the  Internal  Improvement  Fund, 
and  in  the  failure  to  receive  the  installments  of  the  appropria- 
tion, and  which  compelled  the  Geologist  to  provide  means 
from  his  private  resources,  it  became  necessary  to  suspend 
operations  in  the  month  of  September.  He  prays  a  release 
from  the  duties  and  responsibilities  connected  with  the 
superintendence  of  the  improvement  of  the  Salt  Springs,  as 
incompatible  with  the  proper  discharge  of  the  duties  imposed 
upon  him  as  State  Geologist. 


THE  FOURTH  ANNUAL  REPORT 

Of  the  State  Geologist  bears  date  Feb.  1,  1841  (88  pages). 
The  Geologist  states  that  his  ' l  individual  labors  during  the 
past  season,  1840,  had  been  chiefly  devoted  to  surveys  con- 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  157 

nected  with  the  northern  slope  of  the  upper  peninsula,  and 
regrets  that  the  hardships  to  which  he  has  been  exposed  in 
conducting  the  field  work  over  the  wilderness  portions  of  our 
State  have  so  far  impaired  his  health  as  to  render  it  impos- 
sible to  enter  into  so  minute  details  as  had  been  anticipated.'7 
He  then  enters  upon  a 

General  Description  and  Topographical  Features  of  the  Upper  or 
Northern  Peninsula. 

The  topography  and  general  features  of  the  upper  and 
lower  peninsulas  differ  so  widely  from  each  other,  that,  with 
the  simple  exception  of  a  part  of  the  easterly  extremity  of 
the  upper  peninsula,  they  scarcely  admit  of  a  comparison. 
The  wide  contrast  exhibited  by  the  two  districts  is  wholly 
dependent  upon  geological  differences,  and  these  are  so 
strongly  marked  that  they  could  not  fail  to  attract  the  notice 
of  the  most  superficial  observer. 

In  the  last  report  I  had  the  honor  to  lay  before  you,  some 
general  references  were  made  to  the  topography  of  the  south- 
ern slope  of  the  upper  peninsula,  which  embraced  simply 
those  portions  bordering  on  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan,  and 
extending  from  Point  de  Tour  to  Monominee  Eiver. 

Although  the  rocks  of  the  district  extending  from  Point 
de  Tour  to  Chocolate  Eiver,  upon  the  northerly  or  Lake 
Superior  slope,  belong  to  an  older  series  than  those  lying 
south,  and  are  different  in  composition,  the  general  features 
of  the  two  districts,  nevertheless,  bear  a  close  resemblance. 
Easterly  from  Point  Iroquois,  the  country  is  for  the  most  part 
flat,  or  but  slightly  elevated,  and  the  near  approach  of  the 
rock  to  the  surface  so  far  prevents  the  descent  of  the  waters 
as  to  give  rise  to  extensive  districts  of  wet  and  swaly  land. 
Westerly  from  point  Iroquois  to  Chocolate  Eiver  the  country 
is  more  elevated  and  has  a  much  smaller  proportion  of  wet  land. 
A  range  of  hills,  having  an  elevation  varying  from  300  to  600 
feet  above  Lake  Superior,  commences  a  little  easterly  from 


158  APPENDIX. 

Point  Iroquois,  and  stretches  very  nearly  west,  or  but  a  few 
degrees  north  of  west,  until  the  western  escarpment  again 
appears  upon  the  coast,  giving  rise  to  the  elevated  hills  of 
which  the  Pictured  Bocks  and  Grand  Island  form  a  part. 
The  outline  of  this  range  of  hills  has  the  most  perfect  regular- 
ity, being  unbroken  and  uniformly  covered  with  a  dense 
growth  of  timber. 

West  from  Chocolate  Eiver,  to  our  boundary  line  at  Mon- 
treal Biver^  the  physical  character  of  the  country  is  widely 
different  from  that  of  the  district  before  referred  to.  This 
country  is  made  up  of  a  series  of  irregular,  knobby  ranges  of 
hills  that  have  a  general  easterly  and  westerly  direction,  with 
intervening  valleys  of  flat  or  gently  rolling  land.  These  hills 
not  unfrequently  rise  to  a  height  of  from  600  to  900  feet,  very 
near  to  the  immediate  coast  of  Lake  Superior,  and  at  a  dis- 
tance of  15  to  20  miles  south  from  the  coast,  portions  of  some 
of  the  ranges  rise  to  a  height  of  1,200  to  1,300  feet  above  the 
level  of  that  lake.  The  ragged  and  broken  outline  which  this 
district  presents,  when  viewed  in  detail,  from  the  lake,  con- 
trasts in  a  striking  manner  with  that  of  the  country  lying 
east  from  Chocolate  Eiver,  for  instead  of  the  regular  and 
unbroken  range  of  hills  uniformly  covered  with  a  dense  forest 
that  occur  in  the  latter  districts,  we  have  a  series  of  ranges 
of  broken  hills,  with  knobs  not  unfrequently  nearly  or  quite 
destitute  of  timber.  The  escarpments  of  these  hills  are  some- 
times so  abrupt  as  to  render  them  difficult  of  ascent. 

The  only  exception  to  the  general  easterly  and  westerly 
direction  of  these  ranges  of  hills,  occurs  in  that  range  con- 
stituting the  Porcupine  Mountains.  These  mountains  rise 
somewhat  abruptly  almost  upon  the  immediate  coast  of  Lake 
Superior,  at  a  point  37  miles  north-easterly  from  the  mouth  of 
Montreal  Eiver,  and  from  this  point  they  stretch  inland,  in  a 
direction  which,  for  the  first  thirty  miles,  is  very  nearly 
south-south-west,  after  which  their  course  is  more  westerly, 
and  in  the  direction  of  the  sources  of  the  Wisconsin  Eiver. 
The  most  elevated  points  of  the  Porcupine  Mountains,  near  to 
Lake  Superior,  attain  an  altitude  of  very  nearly  950  feet,  but 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  159 

several  of  the  knobs,  at  a  distance  inland,  rise  from  1,100  to 
1,300  feet  above  the  level  of  the  waters  of  that  lake. 

The  valleys,  before  referred  to  as  separating  these  ranges  of 
hills,  are  uniformly  heavily  timbered,  and  by  far  the  largest 
proportion  of  this  timber  is  beech  and  maple. 

The  length  of  the  hilly  or  mountainous  district,  estimating 
in  a  direct  line  west  from  Chocolate  Eiver  to  the  boundary 
line  on  Montreal  Eiver,  is  very  nearly  one  hundred  and  sixty 
miles,  and  it  does  not  probably  extend,  at  any  point,  more 
than  20  to  25  miles  south  of  this  line.  Estimating  this  hilly 
district  to  extend  regularly  20  miles  south  of  a  line  drawn 
from  the  points  before  mentioned,  the  greatest  width  of  the 
district  would  be  opposite  Keweenaw  point,  which  extends  67 
miles  north  from  this  line,  making  the  total  width  at  this 
point  87  geographical  miles.  The  very  great  irregularities  of 
the  coast,  with  the  numerous  deep  bays  and  projecting  points 
upon  the  north,  together  with  the  irregularities  of  the  ranges 
of  hills  upon  the  south,  cause  so  great  variations  in  the  width 
of  the  district,  that  it  is  impossible,  with  the  present  informa- 
tion upon  this  subject,  to  estimate  the  width  of  the  district 
with  any  great  degree  of  accuracy.  Keweenaw  Bay,  of  Lake 
Superior,  stretches  60  miles,  estimating  from  the  extremity  of 
Keweenaw  Point,  into  this  hilly  or  mountainous  country. 

South  from  the  range  of  hilly  country  alluded  to,  and 
extending  to  green  Bay,  the  country  at  first  becomes  more 
level  and  finally  flat,  though  with  several  regular  and 
unbroken  ranges  of  hills.  In  topography  and  general  char- 
acter it  more  nearly  resembles  that  district  of  country  which 
lies  east  from  Chocolate  Kiver. 

Of  the  district  of  country  lying  between  the  hilly  country 
and  Green  Bay,  less  is  known  than  of  any  other  portion  of  the 
upper  peninsula.  The  extent  of  my  duties  did  not  permit 
me  to  extend  my  examinations  very  far  into  it,  nor  was  I 
enabled  to  obtain  any  information  as  to  its  general  char- 
acter. 


160  APPENDIX. 

The  streams  which  discharge  their  waters  into  Lake 
Superior  upon  its  south  shore,  are  invariably  short,  and  with 
very  few  exceptions,  the  quantity  of  water  they  discharge  is 
small.  This  remark,  in  fact,  may  apply  to  the  whole  of  the 
region  of  country  surrounding  that  lake,  for  this  immense 
body  of  water  is  completely  surrounded  by  hills  that,  at  no 
great  distance  from  the  lake,  fall  away  more  or  less  rapidly. 
Thus,  while  many  of  the  streams  discharging  their  waters  into 
Lake  Michigan,  Green  Bay  and  the  Mississippi  Eiver,  have 
their  sources  near  to  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  so 
also,  many  of  those  streams  which  discharge  their  waters 
northerly  into  Hudson's  Bay,  have  their  sources  near  to  the 
north  coast  of  the  lake.  The  near  approach  of  the  summit 
of  the  ranges  of  hills  surrounding  the  lake,  to  the  immediate 
coast,  leaves  the  area  of  country  draining  into  Lake  Superior, 
comparatively  small. 

The  most  important  of  the  streams  entering  Lake  Superior 
upon  its  south  shore  and  within  the  limits  of  our  State  (com- 
mencing near  the  foot  of  fehe  lake  and  enumerating  westward- 
ly),  are  the  Tequoimenon,  Train,  Chocolate,  Death,  Yellow 
Dog,  Huron,  Portage,  Fire  Steel,  Ontonagon,  Iron,  Presque 
Isle,  Black  and  Montreal  rivers.  Besides  these,  there  are 
innumerable  creeks,  which  are  usually  known  to  voyageurs  as 
rivers,  for  this  term  is  applied  indiscriminately  to  all.  The 
waters  of  most  of  these  streams  are  remarkably  transparent 
and  pure,  with  brisk  currents  and  numerous  cascades,  and 
they  almost  invariably  contain  an  abundance  of  the  brook 
trout,  a  circumstance  which  I  mention  from  the  fact  that  this 
fish  is  scarcely  known  in  the  streams  of  the  southern 
peninsula. 

The  Tequoimenon  Eiver,  which  is  the  only  stream  east 
from  Chocolate  Eiver  that  in  reality  breaks  through  the  range 
of  sandstone  hills,  before  mentioned  as  extending  westerly 
from  Point  Iroquois,  has  its  embouchure  about  18  miles  south 
from  White  Fish  Point,  and  near  the  foot  of  the  lake.  The 
discharge  is  through  loose  sands,  and  there  is  an  average  of  4 


FIBST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  161 

to  4£  feet  water  over  the  bar.  Having  passed  the  bar,  the 
water  for  a  distance  of  7  to  8  miles  varies  from  10  to  15  feet 
in  depth. 

Some  of  .the  sources  of  this  stream  approach  very  nearly  to 
Lake  Michigan,  being  directly  at  the  base  of  the  range  of 
lime  rock  hills,  referred  to  in  my  third  annual  report. 

The  Toquimenon  Eiver,  with  the  exception  of  a  distance 
of  some  four  to  five  miles,  while  passing  through  the  range  of 
sandstone  hills  before  alluded  to,  is,  through  its  whole  course, 
a  sluggish  stream,  though  at  many  points  having  a  strong, 
deep  current.  The  character  of  the  river  in  its  passage 
through  the  range  of  hills  referred  to,  is  totally  changed,  for 
it  has  there  numerous  chutes  and  falls,  with  almost  continuous 
rapids.  At  one  point  the  whole  body  of  water  contained  in 
the  stream  is  precipitated  by  a  single  leap  from  a  height  of  46 
feet,  and  the  effect  of  this  fall  is  much  heightened  by  the 
elevated  and  overhanging  rocks  that  bound  the  river  on  either 
side. 

Most  of  the  small  streams  discharging  into  Lake  Superior 
between  the  foot  of  the  lake  and  Chocolate  Eiver,  have  their 
sources  to  the  north  of  the  elevated  range  of  hills  mentioned, 
or  minor  branches  only  decend  from  those  hills. 

Chocolate  Eiver,  which  discharges  its  waters  into  Lake 
Superior  at  a  point  146  miles  very  nearly  due  west  from  the 
Saut  de  Ste.  Marie,  is  a  stream  of  considerable  magnitude, 
though  in  consequence  of  the  loose  sands  at  its  mouth  it  is 
difficult  of  entrance  at  ordinary  stages  of  water  even  with 
barges  of  moderate  draught,  but  when  once  the  bar  is  passed 
the  stream  is  found  to  be  deep,  and  for  several  miles  has  a 
width  varying  from  80  to  150  feet. 

This  stream  will  be  made  a  point  of  reference  in  the 
strictly  geological  portions  of  this  report,  for  it  winds  along 
near  the  line  of  junction  of  two  widely  distinct  geological 
districts,  the  general  features  of  one  being  characterized  by  its 
ragged  and  broken  hills,  while  the  other  is  not  less  marked  by 
its  generally  level  or  regularly  undulating  surface. 

(11) 


162  APPENDIX. 

Chocolate  Eiver  takes  its  name  from  the  dark  color  of  its 
waters. 

Those  streams  which  occur  between  Chocolate  Eiver  and 
Keweenaw  Bay;  are,  with  the  exception  of  Huron  Eiver, 
small;  though  were  we  to  refer  to  the  published  maps  of  this 
district,  we  would  suppose  that  some  of  these  streams  were  of 
very  considerable  length.  But  with  the  exception  of 
Huron  Eiver  and  Eiver  Des  Morts,  I  believe  they  all  have 
their  sources  in  small  lakes  lying  along  the  bases  of  the 
elevated  hills  already  described.  These  hills  rarely  recede 
farther  than  three  to  five  miles  from  the  coast,  and  the  length 
of  the  streams  forming  the  outlets  of  the  lakes  referred  to,  is 
governed  wholly  by  these  features. 

Ontonagon  Eiver,  which  is  one  of  the  most  important  of 
the  rivers  discharging  its  waters  into  Lake  Superior,  upon  its 
south  shore,  has  its  embouchure  very  nearly  fifty -five  miles 
east,  or  rather  north-easterly,  from  the  western  boundary  of 
the  State,  at  the  mouth  of  Montreal  Eiver.  Ontonagon  Eiver 
has  its  sources  in  a  very  great  number  of  mountain  lakes, 
situated  in  part  upon  the  south-easterly  spurs  of  the  Porcu- 
pine Mountains,  and  in  part  in  the  hilly  district  formed  by 
the  easterly  and  westerly  ranges  of  hills  before  described, 
which  ranges,  upcn  this  portion  of  the  coast,  curve  very  con- 
siderably to  the  south.  Some  of  the  sources  of  the  Ontonagon 
Eiver  approach  very  near  to  the  sources  of  the  Chippewa 
Eiver  of  the  Mississippi.  The  great  number  of  small  tribu- 
taries of  the  Ontonagon,  which  are  simply  the  outlets  of  the 
small  lakes  referred  to,  are  concentrated  into  two,  principally 
branches,  that  finally  unite  and  form  the  principal  river,  at  a 
distance  of  about  eighteen  miles  from  the  coast  of  Lake 
Superior.  The  smaller  tributaries  are  mostly  mere  torrents, 
with  frequent  perpendicular  falls,  and  high  banks,  sometimes 
of  precipitous  rock.  The  main  stream,  from  the  junction  of 
the  two  principal  branches  to  within  five  or  six  miles  of  the 
lake,  is  rapid  and  shoal,  but  below  this  the  stream  is  compara- 
tively still,  and  with  a  good  depth  of  water.  The  mouth  of 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  163 

the  Ontonagon  Eiver  is  obstructed  by  a  bar  of  sand,  over 
which  there  is  usually,  at  low  stages,  about  six  feet  of 
water. 

The  principal  rivers  west  from  Ontonagon  Eiver,  and 
within  the  limits  of  our  State,  have  already  been  stated  to  be 
Iron,  Presque  Isle,  Black  and  Montreal  Eivers.  These 
streams  are  all  short,  and  the  amount  of  water  discharged  by 
each  separately  is  comparatively  small.  Their  waters  descend 
from  the  elevated  mountain  region  immediately  south  from 
the  coast,  and  since  the  whole  streams  are  concentrated  before 
passing  from  these  elevations,  their  waters  are  discharged  in 
body  and  they  descend  with  very  great  rapidity.  A  greater 
variety  of  grand  and  beautiful  scenery  than  that  presented  by 
some  of  these  streams  in  their  descent  to  the  lake,  taken  in 
connection  with  the  rugged  and  wild  character  of  the  country, 
can  scarcely  be  conceived.  I  was  particularly  struck  with  the 
great  variety  of  picturesque  views  furnished  by  Black  Eiver, 
in  its  descent  from  the  elevated  country  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Porcupine  Mountains  to  Lake  Superior.  The  stream  was 
estimated  to  fall  about  five  hundred  feet  in  a  fraction  over  four 
miles,  and  this  descent  is  made  up  by  a  constant  succession  of 
falls,  chutes  and  rapids,  which  continue  with  so  little  inter- 
ruption that  the  waters  for  the  whole  distance  may  be  said  to 
be  constantly  white  foam.  The  stream  is  bounded  upon 
either  side  by  banks  elevated  from  one  hundred  to  three  hun- 
dred feet,  sometimes  sloping  away  from  the  stream,  somewhat 
gently,  and  again  rising  in  mural  precipices  of  rock,  separated 
from  each  other  by  so  short  distances  as  to  appear  scarcely 
sufficient  to  permit  the  passage  of  the  waters  of  the  river. 
The  most  considerable  fall  does  not  exceed  fifty  feet,  and 
they  are  usually  from  ten  to  thirty  feet  in  height,  but  their 
constant  succession  and  variety  add  much  to  its  interest. 

Montreal  Eiver  is  a  comparatively  small  stream,  made  up 
of  numerous  small  tributaries  that  rise  among  the  ranges  of 
hills  to  the  south-west  and  south-east  of  its  mouth.  The 
passage  of  the  river  through  the  range  of  hills  near  the  lake, 


164  APPENDIX. 

gives  rise  to  several  very  considerable  water-falls,  as  also  to 
much  rugged  and  wild  scenery.  Almost  directly  at  the  place 
of  embouchure  into  Lake  Superior,  there  is  a  perpendicular 
fall  of  about  40  feet.  This  stream,  it  will  be  recollected, 
forms  a  portion  of  the  boundary  between  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin. 

By  the  act  admitting  Michigan  as  a  State  into  the  con- 
federacy, and  in  which  her  boundaries  are  denned,  it  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  the  intention  to  include  within  her  limits 
any  portion  of  territory  lying  upon  the  north  shore  of  Lake 
Superior,  but  in  consequence  of  the  peculiar  shape  of  the 
coast  at  that  point  where  the  national  boundary  line  "last 
touches  Lake  Superior,"  at  the  mouth  of  Pigeon  Eiver,  a 
direct  line  to  the  mouth  of  the  Montreal  Eiver,  if  followed 
literally,  would  throw  within  the  State  of  Michigan  several 
small  rocky  islands,  together  with  a  few  miles  of  the  south 
cape  of  Pigeon  Bay,  situate  on  the  north  coast.  This  boun- 
dary leaves  in  Wisconsin  the  whole  of  the  Apostles'  group 
of  islands,  near  to  the  south  coast,  while  it  includes  within 
Michigan,  Isle  Eoyale,  situate  near  to  the  north  coast  of  the 
lake. 

Isle  Eoyale  is  little  less  than  an  island  of  rock  rising 
abruptly  from  the  lowest  depth  of  the  lake,  in  irregular  hills, 
to  a  height  varying  from  100  to  450  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
lake.  The  island  has  a  length  of  a  fraction  over  45  miles  from 
north-east  to  south  west,  and  a  breadth  varying  from  3£  to  8 
miles.  The  most  northerly  point  of  the  island  is  very  nearly 
in  latitude  48  deg.  12  niin.  30  sec.  north,  and  the  parallel  of 
longitude  89  deg.  west  from  Greenwich,  crosses  the  island  a 
little  east  from  its  centre.  Its  nearest  approach  to  the  main 
land  is  near  its  north-westerly  end,  where  it  is  separated  from 
a  point  of  the  north  coast,  a  few  miles  east  from  Pigeon  Eiver 
by  a  distance  of  a  fraction  less  than  13  miles.  Isle  Eoyal  is 
separated  from  Keweenaw  Point  of  the  south  coast,  by  a  dis- 
tance of  44  miles,  and  the  elevated  hills  of  this  point  may  be 
distinctly  seen  from  Isle  Eoyale  when  the  atmosphere  is  clear. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  165 

Nearly  the  whole  of  the  north-westerly  side  of  Isle  Eoyale 
is  a  continuous,  elevated,  rocky  cliff,  which  will  scarcely 
admit  of  a  landing,  but  the  south-easterly  side,  together  with 
the  easterly  and  westerly  ends,  are  deeply  indented  with  bays, 
which  form  secure  harbors.  The  north-easterly  end  is  made 
up  of  a  series  of  elevated,  rocky  spits,  with  intervening  bays. 
These  spits  of  rock  continue  for  a  length  varying  from  10  to 
12  miles,  with  a  width  scarcely  exceeding  half  a  mile,  and 
altogether  they  may  not  inaptly  be  compared  to  the  hand 
with  the  fingers  half  spread.  The  bays  have  a  sufficient 
depth  of  water  to  admit  vessels  of  the  largest  class  to  enter 
nearly  one-third  the  whole  length  of  the  island. 

Much  of  Isle  Eoyal  is  absolutely  destitute  of  soil,  and  the 
island  has  a  most  desolate  appearance,  but  notwithstanding 
this  it  is  of  immense  value  for  its  fisheries,  which  are  as  yet 
scarcely  appreciated. 

General  Geology  of  the  Upper  Peninsula. 

The  geology  of  the  upper  or  northern  peninsula  of  Michi- 
gan, when  compared  with  that  of  the  southern  or  lower 
peninsula,  bears  a  striking  contrast,  for  while  that  of  the 
district  last  referred  to  is  uniformly  regular,  with  rocks, 
which,  though  rarely  exposed  to  view,  are  few  and  for  the 
most  part  but  little  disturbed,  over  large  areas  of  country, 
the  upper  peninsula  embraces  a  much  greater  number  of 
rocks,  distributed  over  a  somewhat  smaller  district  of  country, 
and  a  portion  of  which  are  so  much  disturbed  as  to  render 
their  delineation  exceedingly  complex  and  difficult. 

The  widely  different  topographical  features  of  the  easterly 
and  westerly  portions  of  the  northerly  part  of  the  upper 
peninsula  would  lead  the  most  casual  observer  to  infer  that 
the  geological  features  of  the  different  districts  would  be 
equally  distinct,  and  in  this  he  would  not  be  disappointed. 

I  have  already  referred  to  the  rugged  and  broken  character 
of  the  country  extending  westerly  from  Chocolate  Eiver  to 
our  boundary  at  Montreal  Eiver,  and  have  also  attempted  to 


166  APPENDIX. 

define  its  general  length  and  breadth.  This  district,  which  is 
essentially  made  up  of  primary,  trap  and  metamorphic  rocks, 
with  intervening  sedimentary  rocks,  usually  occupying  the 
valleys  and  out  boundaries,  may  be  estimated  to  cover  an  area 
equal  to  a  little  more  than  one- fourth  of  the  whole  of  the 
upper  peninsula.  To  the  east  and  south  of  this  district  the 
rocks  are  wholly  sedimentary,  consisting  of  a  series  of  sand- 
stones, limestones  and  shales. 

With  a  view  of  rendering  the  local  details  of  the  separate 
formations  more  intelligible,  I  will  first  describe  in  general 
terms  the  rocks  occurring  in  so  much  of  the  peninsula  as  has 
been  examined,  together  with  their  general  extent.  This  will 
necessarily  involve  a  repetition  of  a  very  small  portion  of  the 
report  last  made,  upon  the  subject  of  the  limestones  of  the 
south  and  east  portions  of  the  peninsula,  but  since  the  exami  - 
nations  of  the  past  year  have  enabled  me  to  add  another  mem- 
ber to  the  limestone  group,  and  to  define  with  more  certainty 
its  outline,  this  may  not  be  devoid  of  interest. 

1.  Primary  Rocks. — The  rocks  constituting  what  may  be 
considered  as  the  true  primary  group  of  this  region  are  chiefly 
granite,  syenite  and  syenitic  granites.  The  members  of  the 
group  are  first  seen  upon  the  south  coast  of  Lake  Superior, 
constituting  a  rocky  point  known  as  Little  Presque  Isle,  a 
little  south-east  from  Eiver  Des  Morts.  These  rocks  fre- 
quently appear  upon  the  coast  north  westerly,  nearly  as  far  as 
Huron  Eiver,  and  the  Huron  Islands,  off  the  mouth  of  Huron 
Eiver,  belong  to  the  same  group.  West  from  Huron  Islands 
no  rock  appears  upon  the  coast  which,  in  a  strict  sense,  I 
should  regard  as  primary.  The  rocks  of  this  group  rise  upon 
or  near  to  the  coast,  in  irregular  and  broken  ranges  of  hills, 
to  a  height  varying  from  300  to  700  feet  above  the  waters  of 
the  lake,  and  these  hills,  or  ranges  of  hills,  are  continued  in 
a  south-westerly  direction.  The  precise  limit  of  the  primary 
rocks  to  the  westward,  has  not  yet  been  determined,  but  they 
are  known  to  extend  nearly  or  quite  to  the  sources  of  the 
Wisconsin  Eiver. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  167 

A  portion  of  the  south-westerly  prolongation  of  the  Por- 
cupine Mountain  range  is  made  up  of  rocks  belonging  to  the 
primary  group,  but  its  precise  limit  here  has  not  yet  been 
determined. 

2.  Trap  Rocks. — Flanking  the  primary  rocks  already  de- 
scribed on  the  north  and  north -west,  are  a  series  of  ranges  of  hills 
stretching  in  a  direction  generally  south-westerly  and  north- 
easterly, which  attain  an  altitude  of  from  three  to  nine  hun- 
dred feet  above  the  lake.  They  are  more  regular,  or  rather 
less  broken  in  outline  than  the  primary  hills;  a  change,  how- 
ever, which  in  the  transition  is  noticed  to  take  place  gradually 
from  one  group  to  the  other,  or  in  other  words  the  knobbed 
character  of  the  ranges  becomes  less  and  less  apparent  as  we 
cross  them  in  a  north-westerly  direction,  or  from  the  primary 
range.  These  hills  are  composed  of  rocks,  differing  at  first 
but  slightly  from  those  of  the  primary  group,  but  gradually 
the  difference  becomes  more  and  more  apparent  as  we  proceed 
northerly.  The  rocks  of  those  hills  nearest  the  primary 
range  may  possibly  be  regarded  simply  as  rocks  of  that  group, 
more  or  less  altered,  though  the  rocks  of  the  outer  ranges  are 
plainly  trap.  The  range  of  these  rocks,  which  may  be  said  to 
commence  at  the  very  extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point,  extends, 
after  a  slight  curve  to  the  north,  in  a  general  south-westerly 
direction,  gradually  receding  from  the  coast,  until  at  the 
crossing  of  the  Ontonagon  Eiver,  it  is  nearly  25  miles  inland. 
Westerly  from  Ontonagon  Eiver  the  range  becomes  confounded 
with  the  northerly  portions  of  the  Porcupine  Mountains, 
while  west  from  these  mountains  a  portion  of  what  may  be 
considered  the  same  range  of  rock  has  taken  a  more  westerly 
course  and  approaches  the  coast,  until  at  the  crossing  of  the 
Montreal  Eiver  it  is  but  a  few  miles  distant  from  Lake 
Superior.  West  from  the  Porcupine  Mountains  a  second 
range  of  trap  is  continued  at  a  distance  of  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  miles  inland.  The  trap  range  of  Keweenaw  Point 
may  be  estimated  to  compose  one-third  the  entire  width 
of  the  point,  and  the  south-easterly  portions  of  the  range  are 


168  APPENDIX. 

made  up  of  compact  greenstone,  while  those  portions  to  the 
north-west  are  amygdaloid. 

The  ranges  of  hills  constituting  the  north-westerly  part  of 
Isle  Royale,  and  extending  its  whole  length,  are  of  similar 
rocks,  and  single  knobs  of  well  defined  trap  rock  occasionally 
occur  in  the  very  midst  of  the  primary  region  before  referred 
to,  upon  the  south  coast;  the  proofs  of  the  character  of  which 
will  be  shown  as  we  advance. 

3.  Metamorphic  Rocks. — Flanking  the  primary  rocks  on 
the  south,  is  a  series  of  stratified  rocks  consisting  of  talcose, 
mica  and  clay  slates,  slaty  hornblende  rock,  and  quartz  rock; 
the  latter  rock  constituting  by  far  the  largest  proportion  of 
the  whole  group.     In  traversing  the  country  south-easterly 
from  little  Presque  Isle,  the  point  referred  to  as  the  most 
south-easterly  prolongation  of   the  granite,   this    last    rock 
passes  almost  insensibly  into  a  serpentine  rock,  which  has  a 
regular  jointed  structure,  sometimes  approaching  to  stratifica- 
tion; continuing  in  the  same  direction  we  find  a  series  of 
hornblend  slates,  talcose,  mica  and  clay  slates,  resting  against 
the  serpentine  rocks,  and  still  farther  to  the  south-east  the 
rock  becomes  almost  uniformly  quartz.      The   rocks  of  this 
group  dip  irregularly  to  the  south  and  south  east,  while  the 
cleavage  of  the  slates  is  very  uniformly  to  the  north. 

The  rocks  of  the  metamorphic  group  stretch  into  the 
interior  in  a  westerly  or  rather  south-westerly  direction,  form- 
ing the  south-easterly  part  of  the  hilly  region. 

Eocks  referable  to  this  group  also  occur  upon  the  north 
coast  of  Lake  Superior. 

4.  Conglomerate.—  The  rock  to  which  I  shall  restrict  this 
term  does  not  occur  well  characterized  at  any  point  east  from 
the  district  referred  to  as  the  commencement  of  the  trap 
group,  nor  has  it  been  noticed  resting  upon  any  of  either  the 
primary  or  metamorphic  rocks,  but  is  invariably  seen  resting 
upon  the  trap  rocks.     Commencing  upon  the  north  side  of  the 
trap,  at  the  extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point,  the  conglomerate 


FIRST   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  169 

flanks  the  trap  upon  its  northerly  side,  as  far  west  as  the 
boundary  of  our  State;  nor  does  it  stop  here,  for  the  same 
rock  is  seen  at  intervals  as  far  west  as  the  head  of  Lake 
Superior.  A  similar  rock  also  rests  upon  the  trap  of  Isle 
Eoyale,  facing  the  south-east. 

In  the  course  of  the  range  of  conglomerate  upon  the  south 
shore,  it  forms  a  nearly  continuous  range  of  hills,  with  some- 
what steep  escapements,  but  with  a  generally  rounded  outline. 
These  hills  sometimes  rise  to  a  height  of  from  three  to  five 
hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  lake. 

The  conglomerate  attains  a  very  great  thickness,  being 
greatest  at  its  westerly  prolongation,  and  it  gradually  thins 
out  as  we  proceed  north-easterly ;  but  the  irregularity  in 
thickness  is  so  very  considerable  that  variations  of  several 
hundred  feet  are  not  uncommon  within  the  space  of  a  few 
miles. 

The  conglomerate  rock  of  the  south  coast  dips  in  mass 
irregularly  to  the  north  and  north-west,  while  that  of  Isle 
Eoyale  dips  to  the  south-east. 

5.  Mixed  Conglomerate  and  Sandstone. — The  rock  or  rocks 
to  which  I  have  affixed  the  above  name  consists  of  an  alter- 
nating series  of  coarse  conglomerates  and  red  sandstones, 
resting  conformably  upon  the  conglomerate  rock  before 
described.  In  strictness,  these  rocks  should  probably  be 
considered  as  a  member  of  the  conglomerate  itself,  but  for  the 
sake  of  convenience  in  description  I  have  deemed  it  desirable 
to  separate  them. 

This  mixed  rock  was  only  noticed,  as  before  stated,  resting 
upon  the  conglomerate,  and  this  only  between  Point  Kewee- 
naw  and  Montreal  Eiver.  Its  thickness  immediately  west 
from  and  upon  the  flanks  of  the  Porcupine  Mountains,  is  very 
considerable,  but  it  wedges  out  rapidly  both  easterly  and 
westerly,  and  on  the  east,  near  the  extremity  of  Keweenaw 
Point,  it  wholly  disappears. 

The  mixed  rock  dips  regularly  to  the  north  and  north- 
west. 


170  APPENDIX. 

6.  Lower  or  Red  Sandstone  and  Shales. — The  red  sandstone, 
with  its  accompanying  red  and  gray  shales,  occupies  a  much 
larger  extent  of  the  country  bordering  upon  Lake  Superior 
than  any  other  single  rock  or  group  of  rocks.     It  rests  upon 
the  primary  and  metamorphic  rocks,  immediately  west  from 
Chocolate  Biver;  upon  the  conglomerate  and  mixed  rocks  from 
near  Eagle  Kiver,  of  Keweenaw  Point,  west  to  the  head  of 
Lake  Superior;    upon  the  primary  trap,    metamorphic  and 
conglomerate  rocks  of  the  north  shore  of  the  lake,  and  upon 
the  conglomerate  rock  of  Isle  Eoyale.     It  is  this  rock  which 
forms  the  basis  of  the  level  plateaus  or  valleys  occupying  the 
spaces  between  the  several  ranges  of  hills  south  from  Lake 
Superior,   and  west  from  Chocolate  Eiver.      In  these  last 
situations  this  rock  is  frequently  seen  undisturbed  to  surround 
the  bases  of  isolated  knobs  of  granite,  though  when  near  to 
or  in  contact  with  knobs  or  trap  there  are  invariable  evidences 
of  very  great  disturbance. 

The  rocks  of  this  group  attain  their  greatest  thickness  at 
their  westerly  prolongation,  gradually  thinning  out  as  we 
proceed  easterly. 

With  the  exception  of  that  portion  of  the  coast  extending 
from  Point  Iroquois,  at  the  foot  of  the  lake,  to  Grand  Island, 
the  predominating  rock  upon  the  immediate  coast,  both  on 
the  south  and  north  shore,  is  this  red  sandstone;  for  even  the 
primary  trap  and  conglomerate  rocks  are  almost  invariably 
skirted  with  a  band  of  it.  It  is  also  over  this  rock  that  the 
waters  of  Lake  Superior  are  discharged  at  the  Sault  de  Ste. 
Marie. 

The  sandrock  forms  the  chief  portion  of  the  group,  the 
shales  occurring  rather,  as  beds  than  otherwise,  as  will  be 
hereafter  described. 

The  red  sandstone  both  upon  the  north  and  south  shores  of 
Lake  Superior  invariably  dips  into  the  basin  of  that  lake, 
which  may  therefore  be  regarded  as  a  synclinal  axis. 

7.  Upper  or   Gray  Sandstone. — Upon  the  south  shore  of 
Lake  Superior,  and  extending  from  Point  Iroquois  to  Grand 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  171 

Island,  a  sandstone  occurs,  differing  widely  in  its  appearance 
from  that  before  described.  This  sandstone  rests  unconform- 
cibly  upon  the  red  sandstone,  the  former  dipping  gently  to  the 
south  or  south-east,  while  the  latter  dips  very  considerably  to 
the  north  or  north-west. 

The  elevated  range  of  hills  before  described  as  commencing 
a  little  easterly  from  Point  Iroquois  and  extending  to  the 
Pictured  Rocks,  are  composed  of  this  rock.  From  the 
Pictured  Rocks,  the  range  of  hills  curves  more  to  the  south, 
stretching  very  far  to  the  south-west,  but  its  precise  limit  is 
not  yet  determined. 

In  its  easterly  prolongation  the  gray  sandstone  thins  out 
rapidly.  It  is  last  seen  at  the  Neebesh  Rapids  of  the  Riviere 
Ste.  Marie,  on  the  east,  at  which  point,  in  consequence  of  not 
having  been  sufficiently  examined  farther  westerly,  it  was 
confounded  with  the  red  sandrock  in  the  last  report  which  I 
had  the  honor  to  lay  before  you. 

8.  Sandy  Lime  Rock.* — Resting  immediately  upon  this 
upper  or  gray  sandstone  is  a  sandy  limerock,  which,  although 
nearly  wanting  at  the  very  easterly  extremity  of  the  pen- 
insula, as  we  proceed  westerly  occupies  a  more  important 
place.  This  rock,  which,  as  its  name  implies,  is  intermediate 
between  a  sandstone  and  limerock,  may  be  seen  on  Sailor's 
Encampment  Island  of  the  Riviere  Ste.  Marie,  as  also  at 
several  points  in  the  vicinity  of  Monusco  Bay,  from  whence 
it  stretches  westerly,  occupying  nearly  the  central  portion  of 
the  peninsula  for  a  distance  of  at  least  sixty  miles;  from  which 
its  precise  range  and  limit  has  not  yet  been  determined.  The 
outcropping  edge  of  this  rock  appears  at  a  level  very  consid- 
erably below  that  both  of  the  sandstone  to  the  north,  and  of 
the  limestones  to  the  south.  Its  width  for  the  distance  men- 
tioned varies  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles,  and  it  dips  uniformly 
to  the  south-south-east. 

The  sandy  limerock  has  not  yet  been  examined  with  suffi- 
cient care  to  admit  of  accurate  description.  It  contains  but 


*The  names  which  have  been  affixed  to  the  several  sand  and  lime  rocks  are  regarded 
as  merely  temporary,  and  are  introduced,  for  the  present,  barely  to  facilitate  descrip- 
tion. 


172  APPENDIX. 

few  fossils,  but  those  few  are  sufficiently  characteristic,  were 
there  no  other  considerations,  to  separate  it  from  the  lower 
limerocks  and  shales. 

Upon  the  sandy  limerock  to  which  reference  is  above  made 
rests  the  lower  limerock  and  shales,  and  upon  this  last  the 
upper  limerock,  both  uniformly  dipping  to  the  south  or  south- 
east. These  limerocks  were  described  in  general  terms,  in 
my  third  annual  report,  and  although  many  additional  facts 
have  been  gathered  respecting  their  character,  range  and 
extent,  it  is,  perhaps,  unnecessary  to  lay  them  before  you  at 
this  time.  I  will  barely  add,  with  respect  to  them,  that  the 
suggestion  there  mentioned,  that  a  more  careful  examination 
of  these  limestones  would  render  a  farther  division  of  the 
groups  necessary,  has  been  fully  confirmed. 

I  had  hoped  to  lay  before  you  a  profile  section  of  the  rocks 
of  the  upper  peninsula,  but  the  impossibility  of  having  it 
engraved  in  time  to  accompany  this  report  has  led  me  to  defer 
it.  I  regret  this  the  more  since  many  of  the  facts  connected 
with  a  full  understanding  of  the  economical  portion  of  this 
report  are  so  intimately  dependent  upon  the  general  geology 
of  the  country  that  in  the  absence  of  correct  maps,  and  with- 
out a  profile  section  of  the  rocks.  I  fear  it  will  be  impossible 
for  me  to  render  the  most  important  portion,  so  far  as  regards 
the  prosperity  of  the  State,  intelligible. 

As  it  is,  I  can  only,  in  the  place  of  this,  lay  before  you  a 
general  section  of  the  rocks  of  the  upper  peninsula,  together 
with  their  thickness,  so  far  as  the  same  has  been  satisfactorily 
determined.  This  section  is  intended  simply  to  represent 
the  order  in  which  the  several  rocks  rest  upon  each  other. 

Having  already  described  in  general  terms  the  range  and 
extent  of  the  rocks  of  the  upper  peninsula,  so  far  as  the  same 
have  been  examined,  the  limits  of  the  present  report  will 
admit  of  nothing  more  than  a  general  description  of  the 
characters  of  these  rocks,  and  I  shall  not  attempt  a  minute 
description  of  any  members  of  the  series,  except  such  as  are 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


173 


more  or  less  connected  with  subjects  which  are  supposed  to  be 
of  immediate  practical  importance. 


Section  Illustrative  of  the  order  of  super-position  of  the  Rocks  of 
the  Upper  Peninsula. 


Thickness  in  Feet. 

9. 

8. 

7. 
6. 
5. 
4. 
3. 
2. 
1. 

Tertiary  Clays  and  Sands. 

mean  700 
extreme  6,500 
extreme  4,200 
extreme  5,260 

Upper  Limerock  Group  (embracing  as 
members  the  Druinmond  Island  and 
Mackinaw  limestones). 

Lower  Limerock  and  Shales. 

Sandy  or  Intermediate  Limestone. 

Upper  or  Grey  Sandstone, 

Lower  or  Eed  Sandrock  and  Shales, 

Mixed  Conglomerate  and  Sandrock, 

Conglomerate  Bock, 

Metamorphic,  Trap  and  Primary  rocks. 

PRIMARY  BOCKS. 

Although  the  usual  ternary  compound  of  quartz,  feldspar 
and  mica,  occurs  but  rarely  in  the  primary,  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  coast  of  Lake  Superior,  and  in  fact  but  rarely  in  any  por- 


174  APPENDIX. 

tion  of  the  range  which  I  have  visited,  nevertheless,  the  great 
mass  of  rocks  included  within  this  range,  may,  in  a  broad 
sense,  be  called  granite.  The  compound  above  referred  to  is 
more  common  in  the  westerly  than  in  the  easterly  portion  of 
the  range.  The  more  common  rock  is  made  up  of  quartz,  feld- 
spar and  hornblende,  giving  rise  to  a  very  dark  colored  sye- 
nite ;  occasionally  mica  enters  sufficiently  into  the  compound 
to  form  syenitic  granite,  and  sometimes  the  place  of  the  horn- 
blende in  the  syenite  is  supplied  by  schorl  or  tourmaline,  thus 
giviog  rise  to  a  schorl  rock. 

The  rocks  of  the  southeasterly  portion  of  the  primary  range 
of  hills  are  more  clearly  defined  as  granitic  rocks,  than  those 
situated  more  northerly,  for  they  are  more  distinctly  and  large- 
ly crystaline  in  structure,  and  quartz  enters  much  more  large- 
ly as  a  constituent  into  their  composition.  As  we  proceed 
north-westerly,  from  the  south-east  boundary  of  the  primary, 
over  the  several  broken  ranges  of  hills,  we  find  the  character 
of  the  rocks  in  mass  almost  imperceptibly  changing.  The 
quartz  as  a  mineral  gradually  forms  a  less  important  part,  and 
it  finally  almost  wholly  disappears,  leaving  a  binary  compound 
of  feldspar  ?.?A  hornblende,  which  then  assumes  a  granular 
structure,  constituting  greenstone.  The  intermediate  rock, 
between  the  syenite  and  greenstone  ranges,  may  not  inappro- 
priately be  called  a  syenitic  greenstone. 

The  primary  rocks  which  appear  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake 
Superior,  in  the  several  ranges  of  hills  extending  from  a  point 
opposite  little  Presque  isle,*  to  Huron  river,  are  essentially 
either  syenite  or  syenitic  granite.  The  rock,  as  a  whole,  is 
extremely  compact,  and  the  constituent  minerals  are  mostly  in 
small  crystals,  though  occasionally  the  feldspar  assumes  a 
more  largely  crystaline  form. 

The  granitic  rocks,  so  far  as  the  range  has  been  examined, 
in  a  southwesterly  direction,  are  largely  traversed  by  dykes, 
that  are  almost  without  exception  made  up  of  materials  in  all 
respects  indentical  with  the  greenstone,  before  alluded  to,  as 
forming  the  more  northwesterly  ranges  of  hills.  The  courses 

*A  little  south-east  from  River  Des  Morte. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  175 

of  these  dykes  or  veins  are  invariably  marked  by  striking 
changes  in  the  character  of  the  rock  traversed,  and  in  the  larger 
dykes,  the  evidences  of  the  changes  produced  by  the  heat  of 
the  injected  matter,  extend  to  several  hundred  feet  upon  either 
side  of  the  dyke  itself.  The  connection  between  the  rocky  mat- 
ter composing  these  dykes  and  the  ranges  of  greenstone,  lying 
northwest,  is  clearly  identified,  not  only  by  the  perfect  simi- 
larity in  mineral  character,  but  also  from  the  fact,  that  as  we 
proceed  in  the  direction  of  the  ranges  of  greenstone,  the  dykes 
become  much  more  frequent,  until  at  length  it  becomes  diffi- 
cult to  determine  which  of  the  rocks  predominate  in  quantity. 

These  facts  serve  to  throw  much  light  upon  the  relative 
ages  of  the  several  ranges  of  hills,  or  in  other  words,  serve  to 
show  the  order  in  which  they  were  severally  uplifted;  facts 
which  will  be  more  fully  shown  when  we  come  to  consider  the 
present  position  of  the  overlying  sedimentary  rocks.  These 
facts  are  not  only  important,  to  enable  us  to  understand  the 
many  changes  which  have  taken  place,  with  regard  to  the  re- 
lative position  of  the  land  and  water,  but  they  are  rendered  of 
practical  importance  for  the  reason,  which  I  think  may  be 
satisfactorily  shown,  that  the  mineral  region  of  the  upper 
peninsula,  to  be  hereafter  described,  is  strictly  confined  to  only 
the  outer  portion  of  the  rocks  of  a  single  epoch. 

The  veins  and  dykes  of  greenstone,  referred  to  as  travers- 
ing the  granite  rocks,  do  not,  in  this  portion  of  the  group,  ap- 
pear to  have  any  regular  magnetic  bearing,  for  they  traverse 
the  rock  in  all  directions.  Veins  of  any  other  matter  are  very 
rarely  seen  traversing  the  granite.  In  a  single  instance,  what 
was  regarded  as  a  true  vein  of  porphyry,  having  a  width 
of  nearly  three  feet,  was  noticed,  which  vein  is  crossed,  at 
angles  of  53°  and  107°,  by  a  vein  of  greenstone,  having  a  width 
somewhat  less  than  that  of  the  porphyry.  In  this  instance, 
the  greenstone  is  clearly  the  most  recent  vein. 

The  veins  of  greenstone  traversing  the  granite,  vary  from 
a  mere  line,  to  50  or  60  feet  in  width.  The  intimate  blending 
of  the  material  composing  these  veins,  together  with  the  chemi- 
cal differences,  causes  them  to  disintegrate  or  waste  away 


176  APPENDIX. 

more  rapidly  than  the  rock  they  traverse;  the  result  of  which 
is,  that  deep  grooves  are  frequently  left  in  the  granite,  the 
simple  result  of  the  wasting  away  of  these  dykes  or  veins. 
This  is  peculiarly  the  case  upon  the  coast  of  the  lake,  where 
the  rocks  are  subject  to  the  action  of  the  waves,  which  have, 
in  some  instances,  so  removed  the  debris  as  to  leave  long  and 
narrow  bays,  with  high  perpendicular  walls,  occupying  simply 
the  space  once  occupied  by  the  dyke.  The  Huron  islands, 
which  are  simple  elevated  granite  knobs,  appear,  upon  first 
examination,  as  a  mass  of  rocks,  completely  rent  in  many 
places,  with  portions  separated  from  each  other  by  narrow 
clefts,  having  perpendicular  walls  of  great  height.  "While 
these  rents  are  of  sufficient  width  to  admit  of  being  traversed 
by  small  boats,  the  perpendicular  walls  are  so  little  varied  in 
their  elevation  as  scarcely  to  leave  a  point,  in  these  narrow 
passages,  where  a  landing  can  be  effected.  A  careful  examin- 
ation of  these  passages  shows  them  to  be  simply  the  spaces  once 
occupied  by  dykes  or  veins  of  greenstone,  which  having  disin- 
tegrated, and  the  detrital  matter  having  been  removed  by  the 
action  of  the  waves,  has  left  the  walls  of  the  more  enduring 
granite  rock,  unbroken  and  almost  untouched. 

Upon  the  north  coast  of  Lake  Superior,  well  defined  granite 
and  syenite,  or  syenitic  granite,  occasionally  appear  upon  the 
immediate  coast  of  the  lake,  but  more  frequently  these  rocks 
are  flanked  on  the  south  by  greenstone,  with  occasional  nar- 
row bands  of  sandstone  ;  thus  precisely  reversing  the  magnetic 
order  of  those  rocks  upon  the  south  coast. 

TRAP  BOOKS. 

Were  we  to  consider  the  rocks  of  the  district  under  con- 
sideration, strictly  in  their  chronological  order,  those  rocks 
which  I  propose  to  treat  as  trap  rocks,  would  undoubtedly 
follow  those  slates  and  quartz  rocks  which  are  considered  as 
metamorphic,  and  which  may  be  regarded  as  identical  in  time 
of  uplift  with  those  rocks  before  alluded  to,  as  being  inter- 
mediate between  the  granitic  and  trap  rocks.  The  almost  in- 
sensible gradations  by  which  the  granitic  rocks  pass  into  the 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF    MICHIGAN.  177 

greenstone  of  the  trap  formation,  and  the  near  analogy  of  the 
whole  of  the  rocks  of  both  formations,  to  each  other,  renders 
it  more  convenient,  at  the  same  time  that  it  is  more  simple  to 
follow  the  arrangement  or  order  that  I  have  adopted. 

I  have  already  stated  that  in  passing  from  the  granitic  re- 
gion on  the  south  side  of  Lake  Superior,  in  a  direction  north- 
westerly, we  cross  a  series  of  ranges  of  hills,  varying  in  height 
from  three  to  nine  hundred  feet  above  the  lake,  and  that  in 
pursuing  this  course,  we  observe  that  the  character  of  the 
rocks  gradually  and  almost  insensibly  change,  until  at  length 
they  become  well  defined  greenstone.* 

The  rocks  of  the  outer  or  northwestern  range  of  hills,  which 
were  clearly  the  last  of  the  series  of  uplifts,  bears  more  un- 
equivocally the  evidences  of  igneous  origin,  than  either  of  the 
outer  ranges  alluded  to.  The  rock  upon  the  south  flank  of 
these  hills,  is  invariably  very  compact  greenstone,  while  upon 
the  north -westerly  line  it  is  almost  equally  invariably  an  amyg- 
daloid, or  at  least,  has  an  amygdaloidal  structure.  The  causes 
of  this  difference  of  structure  of  the  rock,  upon  the  opposite 
sides  of  this  range  of  hills,  when  carefully  examined  upon  the 
ground,  are  very  apparent,  for  it  is  evident,  as  will  hereafter 
be  shown,  that  the  uplift  of  the  rocks  of  this  range  of  hills 
was  wholly  upon  the  south-easterly  side,  and  while  the  rocks 
of  this  portion  were  in  a  solidified  state,  or  in  other  words, 
that  a  point  in  Lake  Superior  may  be  regarded  as  a  fixed  axis 
of  the  uplifted  mass.  That  this  was  the  case,  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  the  sedimentary  rocks  to  the  south  or  south-east  are 
scarcely  disturbed,  so  far  as  regards  this  range  of  hills,  while 
the  sedimentary  rocks  on  the  north  or  north-westerly  side  are 


*In  the  present  report,  I  use  the  term  greenstone,  in  its  generic  sense,  applying  it  to 
all  the  compact  rocks,  of  a  granulated  structure,  belonging  to  the  trap  range.  By  far 
the  larger  proportion  of  these  rocks  are  greenstone,  in  its  most  restricted  sense,  or  in 
other  words,  are  composed  of  feldspar  and  hornblende;  but  the  term  is  also  used  to  in- 
clude rocks  which  in  a  strict  sense  would  be  considered  as  altered  syenite,  syenitic, 
granite,  hornblende  rock  and  angitic  rock. 

The  term  amygdaloid,  I  apply,  as  it  is  usually  applied  to  that  portion  of  the  rock 
having  a  difference  of  form  simply,  without  any  reference  to  the  constituents  of  the 
rock.  This  generic  use  of  terms  is  employed  for  the  reason  that  the  limits  of  the  present 
report  will  not  allow  any  thing  more  than  a  very  general  consideration  of  the  subject. 
The  term  trap  is  used  in  such  a  sense  as  to  include  both  the  greenstone  and  amygdaloid, 
though  it  may  sometimes  prove  that  the  amygdaloid  has  had  its  origin  from  the  fusion 
of  the  lower  portions  of  the  sedimentary  rocks. 

(12) 


178  APPENDIX. 

invariably  tilted  to  a  high  angle  near  the  range  of  hills,  which 
angle  gradually  decreases  as  we  pass  farther  and  farther  from 
the  hills  themselves.  These  sedimentary  rocks,  which  upon 
the  north  side  always  dip  from  the  range  of  trap  hills,  are  in 
their  close  proximity  to  the  trap  inclined  at  angles  varying 
from  45  deg.  to  85  deg.  Dykes  of  from  fifty  to  four  or  five 
hundred  feet  are  of  frequent  occurrence,  traversing  these 
sedimentary  rocks,  but  the  widest  of  these  have  invariably 
been  protruded  between  the  strata  of  the  sedimentary  rocks, 
and  consequently  have  the  same  general  inclination.  The 
result  of  these  frequent  dykes,  which  occur  at  comparatively 
short  distances  from  the  main  body  of  trap,  is  that  the  sedi- 
mentary rocks  frequently  so  far  lose  their  original  character 
as  scarcely  to  be  recognized. 

The  rocks  of  the  complete  north-western  escarpment  of 
this  range  of  hills  were  evidently  in  an  intense  state  of 
ignition  while  in  contact  with  the  sedimentary  rocks,  as  is 
clearly  shown  by  the  very  great  changes  which  have  taken 
place  in  the  rocks  last  alluded  to.  In  fact,  I  am  disposed  to 
refer  the  origin  of  much  of  the  amygdaloid  rock  to  the  fusion 
of  the  lower  portions  of  the  sedimentary  rocks  referred  to, 
for  the  reason  that  as  we  pass  south  from  this  junction  the 
amygdaloid  rocks  wholly  disappear,  their  place  being  sup- 
plied by  greenstone;  and  again,  so  intimately  are  they  blended 
that  it  is  frequently  impossible  to  determine  where  the 
amygdaloid  ceases  and  the  upper  sedimentary  rocks  com- 
mence. Fragments  of  the  sedimentary  rocks,  the  characters 
of  which  can  be  clearly  recognized,  are  not  of  rare  occurrence, 
imbedded  in  the  amygdaloid  rock,  a  circumstance  which 
although  by  no  means  conclusive,  should  not  be  overlooked  in 
considering  this  subject. 

I  would  not  wish  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  amygdaloid 
rocks  have  their  origin  exclusively  from  the  altered  sediment- 
ary rocks,  but  simply  that  the  change  in  the  structure  of  the 
trap  from  greenstone  to  amygdaloid  may  and  no  doubt  does 
depend  upon  the  proximity  of  the  sedimentary  rocks  to  the 
trap  while  the  latter  was  in  a  state  of  ignition. 


FIRST   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  179 

I  have  been  compelled  to  tread  upon  grounds  which  may, 
perhaps,  be  considered  theoretical,  but  it  would  appear  to  be 
necessary  in  order  to  convey  a  proper  idea  of  the  condition  of 
the  rocks  composing  the  range  of  hills  under  consideration. 
These  views,  however,  would  not  have  been  alluded  to  at  this 
time  had  it  not  been  for  the  fact  that  an  understanding  of  all 
that  relates  to  the  mineral  resources  of  this  portion  of  our 
State  is  more  or  less  intimately  connected  with  this  portion  of 
the  subject. 

Although  the  general  range  of  the  trap  hills  has  been 
already  given,  I  will  define  as  nearly  as  is  in  my  power  the 
line  of  junction  between  the  trap  and  sedimentary  rocks  upon 
the  north  escarpment,  premising  that  the  elevation  at  which 
this  junction  takes  place  is  usually  at  a  height  of  from  100 
to  500  feet  above  the  lake,  and  only  in  a  single  instance  does 
this  line  reach  the  coast  of  the  lake.  Commencing  almost 
directly  at  the  extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point,  this  line  passes 
in  a  south-westerly  direction,  gradually  receding  from  the 
coast ;  it  crosses  Sturgeon  or  Portage  Lake  near  its  centre, 
after  which  it  recedes  still  more  rapidly  from  the  coast,  until 
finally  it  is  seen  to  cross  the  upper  forks  of  the  Ontonagon 
Eiver,  and  soon  after  the  whole  is  apparently  lost  in  the  range 
of  the  Porcupine  Mountains,  which  last  range  has  a  course  so 
much  to  the  south-west  as  probably  to  completely  intersect  the 
first  range  mentioned.  On  the  west  side  of  the  Porcupine 
Mountains  the  range  of  hills  and  the  line  of  junction  appear 
again,  but  many  miles  farther  north  than  they  would  have  been 
looked  for  ;  from  thence  the  true  line  gradually  approaches 
the  coast,  until,  at  its  point  of  crossing  the  Montreal  river,  it 
is  but  about  two  miles  above  the  mouth  of  that  stream. 

To  the  north  and  north-west,  through  the  whole  of  the  dis- 
tance described,  this  trap  is  bounded  by  hills  of  conglomerate 
and  sandstone,  more  or  less  elevated,  but  usually  not  exceed- 
ing 400  feet.  To  the  north-west  of  these  hills  of  sedimentary 
rocks,  a  dyke  of  trap  is  seen  to  extend  for  many  miles  along 
the  line  of  coast  of  Keweenaw  point,  and  so  great  is  the  width 
of  the  dyke,  that  unless  carefully  examined,  its  character 


180  APPENDIX. 

might  easily  be  misunderstood.  It  lies  in  a  plane  parallel  to 
the  stratification  of  the  sedimentary  rock  by  which  it  is  em- 
braced, and  with  that  rock  dips  to  the  north-west  The  dyke 
is  chiefly  made  up  of  greenstone,  but  not  unfrequently  large 
portions  of  the  mass  consist  of  amygdaloid,  in  which  the 
amygdules  are  filled  or  composed  of  quartz,  chalcedony,  agate, 
calc.  spar,  zeolite,  etc. 

The  dykes  just  referred  to,  so  far  as  their  relation  to  the 
amygdaloidal  portion  of  the  trap  is  concerned,  as  also  the  many 
others  similarly  situated  with  respect  to  the  superincumbent 
sedimentary  rocks,  will  be  regarded  in  the  same  light  as  con- 
temporaneous veins,  though  they  are  only  contemporaneous 
with  the  uplift  of  the  strata,  and  not  with  their  deposit.  But 
there  is  still  another  class  of  veins  which  not  only  traverse  a 
portion  of  the  trap  rocks,  but  also  the  upper  sedimentary 
rocks,  and  which  may  be  regarded  as  true  veins.  These  last 
mentioned  veins  traverse  the  rocks  at  a  high  angle  with  the 
line  of  bearing  of  the  sedimentary  rocks,  as  also  with  the  line 
of  junction  of  those  last  mentioned  with  the  trap  rocks.  The 
composition  of  these  veins  is  widely  different  from  that  of  the 
contemporaneous  veins  or  dykes  before  referred  to.  As  this 
subject  will  be  treated  more  at  length  in  a  succeeding  portion 
of  this  report,  I  deem  it  unnecessary  at  this  time  to  refer  more 
particularly  to  the  subject. 

A  single  knob  of  trap  appears  under  circumstances  which 
add  very  much  to  its  interest,  at  what  is  usually  known  as 
Presque  Isle,  an  elevated  rocky  point  immediately  north-west 
from  Eiviere  Des  Morts,  and  almost  directly  within  the  gran- 
itic region.  This  point  of  land  has  its  origin  from  the  simple 
elevation  of  a  mass  of  trap  rock  which  rises  on  the  north  in 
abrupt  cliffs  varying  from  20  to  60  feet  in  height.  The  trap 
is  mostly  greenstone,  though  portions  of  it  are  so  largely  im- 
pregnated with  a  dark  colored,  almost  black  serpentine,  as  to 
deserve  the  name  of  serpentine  rock. 

The  knob  of  trap  under  consideration  is  possessed  of  addi- 
tional interest,  from  the  unequivocal  evidence  of  uplift,  as 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  181 

/ 

also  from  the  manner  in  which  these  evidences  are  exhibited. 
The  cliffs  of  trap  occupy  the  very  extremity  of  the  point, 
while  the  neck  and  central  portions  are  made  up  of  conglomer- 
ate or  trap  tuff  and  sandrock  resting  upon  the  trap.  These 
upper  rocks  also  appear  upon  the  immediate  coast,  in  cliffs  of 
from  20  to  60  feet  in  height,  and  in  many  places  they  are  seen 
resting  directly  upon  the  trap.  The  stratification  of  these 
sedimentary  rocks  has  been  very  much  disturbed,  and  they 
invariably  dip  at  a  high  angle  in  all  directions  from  the  trap 
itself.  The  character  of  both  rocks,  at  the  immediate  line  of 
junction  is  almost  completely  lost,  and  the  evidences  of  change 
most  unequivocally  marked.  But  the  most  curious  feature  of 
the  whole  is  that  the  sedimentary  rocks  for  a  distance  of 
several  hundred  feet  have  been  completely  shattered  or 
broken  into  minute  fragments,  which,  having  retained  their 
original  position  were  again  cemented  by  the  injection  of 
calcareous  matter.  This  injection  has  filled  the  most  minute 
fissures,  and  so  perfect  is  it  that  in  looking  upon  the  face  of 
a  mural  cliff  of  these  rocks,  the  veins  may  be  easily  seen  at  a 
distance  of  many  rods,  forming  as  it  were,  a  complete  net 
work  over  the  cliff,  and  so  minute  is  it  that  a  single  hand 
specimen  frequently  contains  many  hundreds  of  these  veins. 

This  knob  of  trap,  like  the  rock  before  described,  is  also 
traversed  by  veins  of  a  date  subsequent  to  the  uplift  of  the 
rock. 

The  whole  of  the  north  western  portion  of  Isle  Eoyale  is 
made  up  of  trap,  and  in  truth  that  rock  constitutes  by  far  the 
largest  proportion  of  the  rocky  mass  of  the  island.  The  two 
northerly  ranges  of  hills  already  alluded  to  as  traversing  the 
island  in  its  greatest  length  are  wholly  trap.  The  most 
northerly  range  of  hills  is  composed  almost  exclusively  of 
greenstone,  while  the  rock  of  the  south  or  south-easterly 
range  becomes  more  decidedly  amygdaloidal  in  its  structure; 
thus  reversing  the  order  which  these  portions  of  the  rock  bear 
to  each  other  upon  the  south  shore  of  the  lake. 

The  ranges  of  hills  immediately  bounding  Lake  Superior 
upon  its  north  coast  are  almost  invariably  either  well  defined 


182  APPENDIX. 

trap  or  altered  syenite,  while  the  decidedly  primary  rocks 
usually  appear  in  ranges  of  hills  to  the  north  of  these;  thus 
following  the  reversed  order  of  the  rocks  upon  the  south 
coast. 

The  character  of  the  trap  rocks  of  Lake  Superior  has  per- 
haps been  sufficiently  described  to  answer  the  purpose  for 
which  this  hasty  sketch  is  intended;  and  I  will  only  add  that 
they  are  usually  distinctly  jointed,  and  where  they  approxi 
mate  to  the  sedimentary  rocks,  there  is  not  unfrequently  so 
distinct  a  cleavage  opposed  to  the  joints  in  direction  as  to  give 
the  appearance  of  stratification.  The  jointed  structure  of  the 
trap  rocks  sometimes,  though  rarely,  passes  to  what  may  be 
termed  a  rudely  columnar  structure.  Upon  one  of  the  long 
rocky  points  forming  the  north-easterly  extremity  of  Isle 
Eoyale  this  rock  assumes  the  columnar  form,  and  the  columns 
are  tolerably  well  defined,  having  a  height  of  from  80  to  90 
feet.  The  columns  are  also  seen,  but  less  perfectly  developed, 
forming  the  coast  of  a  small  rocky  island  two  or  three  miles 
south  from  the  point  last  alluded  to.  These  are  the  only 
points  in  the  trap  of  Lake  Superior  where  I  have  noticed  the 
rock  to  assume  this  form. 


METAMOKPHIC  BOCKS. 

The  general  direction  of  the  rocks  composing  this  group, 
has  already  been  described,  and  they  are  confined  exclusively 
to  the  range  of  hills  lying  upon  the  south-east  side  of  the 
granitic  rocks.  The  general  direction  of  these  hills  is  south- 
west and  north-east. 

The  outline  of  the  hills  of  the  metamorphic  group  is  less 
broken  than  either  the  granitic  or  trap  ranges,  but  these  rocks 
sometimes  rise  in  abrupt  conical  peaks,  closely  resembling 
those  of  the  granitic  rocks. 

The  area  of  country  occupied  by  rocks  of  this  group  is 
less  than  that  of  either  the  primary  or  trap,  the  general 
average  width  not  exceeding  six  to  eight  miles.  The  precise 
limit  of  the  group  in  a  south-westerly  direction  is  not  known. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY    OF  MICHIGAN.  183 

It  lias  already  been  stated  that  Chocolate  Eiver  is  the 
boundary  on  the  south-east,  between  these  and  the  sediment- 
ary rocks,  and  that  they  extend  in  a  north-westerly  direction 
from  this  stream  to  the  granite,  against  which  they  rest.  The 
group  is  made  up  of  an  alternating  series  of  talcose  and  mica 
.  slates,  sometimes  graduating  into  clay  slates,  with  quartz  and 
serpentine  rocks,  the  quartz  rocks  constituting  by  far  the 
larger  proportion  of  the  whole  mass.  Since  it  would  be 
nearly  impossible  to  describe  the  alternations  of  these  several 
rocks,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  understood  without  the  aid 
of  a  diagram  or  section,  no  attempt  will  be  made  to  do  so. 

The  cleavage  of  all  these  rocks  is  usually  north  or  north 
10  deg.  west,  at  an  angle  which  in  the  main  varies  but  little 
from  80  deg.,  but  the  mass  of  the  group  appears  to  dip 
regularly  to  the  south  or  south-west.  The  talcose  slates  and 
quartz  rocks  alternate  frequently  with  each  other,  and  with 
the  rock  which  has  been  called  serpentine  rock  less  fre- 
quently. 

The  quartz  rock  is  usually  distinctly  granular,  though  it  is 
sometimes  compact,  with  a  conchoidal  fracture.  It  usually 
separates  by  cleavage  into  masses  or  strata,  having  a  consider- 
able degree  of  regularity,  and  varying  from  a  few  inches  to 
several  ;feet  in  thickness.  The  rock  is  usually  more  or  less 
regularly  jointed. 

The  rock  which  for  the  sake  of  convenience  I  have  denomi- 
nate serpentine  rock  bears  a  close  resemblance  to  greenstone, 
being  essentially  composed  of  granular  feldspar  and  horn- 
blend,  with  which  serpentine  is  intimately  blended.  This 
rock  only  occurs  in  the  talcose  slate  as  we  approach  the 
granitic  region,  and  possibly  a  more  close  examination  may 
show  it  to  be  a  simple  series  of  dykes  lying  parallel  to  the  line 
of  cleavage  of  the  slate  rocks. 

The  metamorphic  rocks  are  occasionally  traversed  by  trap 
dykes.  The  group  of  rocks  under  consideration  has  been 
comparatively  little  examined,  and  the  more  minute  details 
connected  with  it  will  be  taken  up  at  some  future  time. 


184  APPENDIX. 

CONGLOMERATE  BOCK. 

The  lower  of  the  sedimentary  rocks  to  which  I  have 
attached  this  name  appears  to  be  invariably  connected  with, 
or  to  rest  upon,  the  trap  rock,  nor  has  it  been  noticed  to  any 
extent  in  connection  with  either  of  the  other  lower  rocks,  for 
it  wholly  disappears  as  we  approach  the  granitic  and  meta- 
morphic  groups.  Of  all  the  sedimentary  rocks  this  is  the 
most  variable  in  thickness,  and  not  unfrequently  does  a  few 
miles  make  a  difference  of  several  hundred  feet.  The  con- 
glomerate rock  may  without  doubt  be  considered  as  a  trap- 
tuff  which  was  gradually  deposited  or  accumulated  around  the 
several  conical  knobs  of  trap  during  their  gradual  elevation, 
and  which  would  necessarily  occupy  the  complete  spaces  or 
valleys  between  the  several  irregular  ranges  of  knobs  or 
hills. 

If  we  regard  this  conglomerate  rock  in  this  light,  we  will 
at  once  perceive  why  the  rock  should  be  variable  and  irregular 
in  its  thickness. 

The  pebbles  of  which  the  mass  of  the  rock  is  composed 
consist  of  rounded  masses  of  greenstone  and  amygdaloidal 
trap,  of  which  the  former  make  up  by  far  the  larger  propor- 
tion, and  scarcely  a  pebble  of  any  other  rock  than  trap  enters 
into  its  composition.  These  pebbles  vary  in  size  from  that  of 
a  pea  to  several  pounds  weight,  but  the  average  size  may  be 
stated  at  1?  to  2  inches  in  diameter.  The  pebbles  are  usually 
united  by  a  mixed  calcareous  and  argillaceous  cement,  more 
or  less  colored  by  iron,  and  so  firm  is  this  union  that  the 
most  compact  and  tough  of  the  greenstone  pebbles  will  fre- 
quently break  through  as  freely  as  the  cement,  and  crevices 
and  narrow  veins  are  frequently  seen  passing  indiscriminately 
across  the  pebbles  and  cement.  This  fact  is  the  more  worthy  of 
notice  since  the  pebbles  are  almost  without  exception  made 
up  of  the  hardest  and  most  indestructible  portions  of  the  trap 
rock. 

The  conglomerate  rock  can  scarcely  be  said  to  occur  in 
such  form  as  to  be  well  defined,  in  any  portion  of  the  country, 


FIEST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  1'85 

excepting  upon  the  northern  flank  of  the  outer  trap  range, 
before  referred  to.  On  the  outer  or  northern  side  of  Kewee- 
naw  Point,  the  conglomerate  commences  near  the  extremity 
of  the  point,  and  extends  several  miles  westwardly,  forming  a 
series  of  abrupt  and  precipitous  cliffs  upon  the  immediate 
shore,  as  also  a  range  of  well  defined  hills  a  little  in  the 
interior,  which  hills  have  an  elevation  varying  from  200  to 
300  feet.  After  appearing  for  a  few  miles  upon  the  coast,  this 
rock  gradually  stretches  into  the  interior,  following  the  line 
before  described  as  the  most  northerly  boundary  of  the  outer 
trap  range  of  hills,  and  invariably  occupying  a  place  to  the 
north  of  this  range,  and  it  may  be  observed,  nearly  or  quite 
continuously,  as  far  as  Montreal  river,  which  stream  it  crosses 
at  a  short  distance  above  its  mouth,  thus  making  its  complete 
length  within  the  limits  of  Michigan,  computing  its  southerly 
curve,  something  over  140  miles,  but  the  jrock  does  not  cease 
at  Montreal  Eiver,  for  it  may  be  seen  at  short  intervals  in  the 
interior  as  far  westwardly  as  the  head  of  Lake  Superior. 

At  the  trap  knob  of  Presque  Isle  conglomerate  is  imper- 
fectly developed,  but  on  the  south-westerly  side  of  Isle  Eoyale 
it  is  more  perfectly  developed,  flanking  the  hills  of  trap  upon 
the  southerly  side. 

The  conglomerate  rock  is  imperfectly  stratified  in  masses 
of  immense  thickness,  and  it  dips  upon  the  south  shore  of 
Lake  Superior  regularly  to  the  north  and  north-west,*  usually 
at  high  angles  varying  from  30  to  85  deg.,  while  upon  Isle 
Eoyale  and  the  north  shore  the  dip  is  reversed,  being  south 
and  south-easterly,  or  in  other  words  the  rock  upon  all  sides 
dips  in  the  direction  of  the  lake  basin. 

Upon  the  south  shore  of  the  lake  the  thickness  of  this 
rock  was  not  estimated  at  any  point  west  from  Montreal  Eiver, 
a  little  east  from  which  it  attains  its  greatest  thickness,  being, 
as  estimated,  5,260  feet.  In  addition  to  the  great  variations 
in  thickness  over  comparatively  small  districts,  the  formation 


*This  variation  in  the  dip  is  in  conformity  with  the  variation  in  the  direction  of  the 
trap  hills. 


186  APPENDIX. 

wedges  out  as  we  pass  easterly  along  the  range,  and  so  rapid  is 
this  change  that  near  its  easterly  prolongation  the  thickness 
was  estimated  at  something  less  than  1,000  feet. 

The  greatest  estimated  thickness  of  the  rock  upon  the 
north  coast  is  a  fraction  less  than  2,300  feet. 

I  have  already  stated  that  this  rock  is  frequently  traversed 
by  dykes  of  trap,  which  are  usually  parallel  to  the  line  of 
stratification  and  dip  of  the  rock.  These  dykes,  which  have 
sometimes  a  thickness  of  50  to  60  feet,  and  even  several  hun- 
dred feet,  are  sometimes  continuous  for  many  miles,  and  are 
many  times  repeated.  In  addition  to  the  dykes  just  alluded 
to  the  rock  is  frequently  traversed  by  veins  of  a  more  recent 
date,  which  traverse  alike  the  trap  and  conglomerate  rocks, 
always  at  very  high  angles  with  the  line  of  bearing  of  the 
conglomerate.  These  veins,  which  are  usually  more  perfectly 
developed  near  the  line  of  junction  of  the  two  rocks,  or  for  a 
distance  of  a  few  thousand  feet  upon  each  side  of  the  junction, 
are  clearly  true  veins,  and  since,  with  a  few  unimportant 
exceptions,,  they  are  the  only  veins  belonging  to  this  range 
which  are  metalliferous  they  will  be  considered  more  fully 
under  a  separate  head. 

MIXED  CONGLOMERATE  AND  SANDBOCK. 

This  rock* formation  is  made  up  of  an  alternating  series  of 
conglomerate  and  red  sandstones,  which  rest  comformably 
upon  the  conglomerate  rock  last  described,  dipping  with  that 
rock  into  the  bed  of  Lake  Superior.  The  mixed  rock  was  not 
noticed  upon  the  north  side  of  the  lake,  or  upon  Isle  Eoyale, 
but  upon  the  south  shore  the  rock  was  traced  continuously 
for  a  distance  of  about  130  miles,  extending  from  a  few  miles 
westerly  from  the  extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point  to  Montreal 
Eiver.  It  follows  the  line  of  the  conglomerate  before 
described,  stretching  from  Keweenaw  Point  in  a  south-west- 
erly direction,,  and  again  curving  to  the  north-west,  forming, 
as  it  were,  a  crescent  between  the  points  before  mentioned,  the 
result  of  which  is  that  the  rock  only  appears  for  a  very 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.    '  187 

limited  distance  upon  the  coast  of  the  lake,  at  Keweenaw 
Point. 

From  a  point  about  eighteen  miles  easterly  from  Montreal 
River  the  rock  wedges  out  rapidly  as  we  proceed  westerly 
from  that  point,  and  as  we  continue  towards  the  head  of  Lake 
Superior  the  rock  wholly  disappears  or  becomes  merged  in  the 
conglomerate  rock  below  and  the  sandrock  above.  The 
greatest  observed  thickness  of  this  rock  is  4,200  feet. 

The  conglomerate  portion  of  the  mixed  rock  consists  of 
strata  of  conglomerate,  varying  from  a  few  feet  to  several  hun- 
dred feet  in  thickness,  and  it  is  composed  of  materials  in  all 
respects  resembling  those  constituting  the  conglomerate  rock 
before  described,  and  these  materials  are  united  by  a  similar 
cement. 

The  sandstone  portion  of  the  formation  occurs  in  strata  of 
very  nearly  corresponding  thickness,  and  the  two  rocks  may 
be  said  to  form  nearly  equal  portions  of  the  complete  mass. 
But  the  material  of  which  this  sandstone  is  composed  differs 
widely  from  that  of  the  true  sandrock  lying  above,  for  while 
the  latter  is  chiefly  made  up  of  quartzose  materials  the  former 
is  composed  of  materials  bearing  a  close  analogy  in  composi- 
tion to  those  of  the  conglomerate  rock  itself;  or  in  other  words 
the  sand  consists  chiefly  of  greenstone,  so  much  comminuted 
as  when  cemented  to  compose  a  coarse  sandstone.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  the  members  of  this  formation  differ  only 
in  the  degrees  and  fineness  of  the  material,  and  the  character  of 
this  material  will  explain  sufficiently  why  the  true  conglomer- 
ate, and  the  mixed  rocks  are  referable  to  the  same  origin,  for 
the  materials  of  the  several  members  of  the  group  have  their 
origin  and  trap  rock,  and  as  a  whole  may  perhaps  be  regarded 
as  a  trap -tuff. 

The  coarser  conglomerate  of  the  formation  is  scarcely 
separated  by  lines  of  stratification,  and  the  strata  appears 
usually  in  mass  embraced  between  the  strata  of  sandstone, 
but  the  stratification  of  the  latter  rock  is  perfect,  and  it  bears 
evidence  of  having  been  deposited  in  shoal  water,  in  the  very 


188  APPENDIX. 

abundant,  perfectly  defined  ripple  marks  which  it  exhibits 
through  its  complete  range. 

No  fossils  were  noticed  in  connection  with  either  the  mixed 
rock  or  the  conglomerate  lying  below  it. 

Dykes  of  greenstone  occasionally  appear  in  the  mixed 
rock,  but  less  frequently  than  in  the  rock  below.  These  dykes 
almost  invariably  occupy  places  between  the  strata  of  the 
rock,  and  correspond  in  position  to  the  direction  and  dip  of 
the  rocks  by  which  they  are  embraced,  or  in  other  words,  the 
rocky  matter  composing  the  dykes  appears  to  have  been 
injected  in  a  plane  corresponding  with  that  of  the  stratifica- 
tion of  the  embracing  rock.  As  in  the  conglomerate  below, 
these  dykes  have  produced  very  great  changes  in  the  color 
and  structure  of  the  mixed  rock  bounding  them  upon  either 
side. 

In  addition  to  these,  the  mixed  rock  is  occasionally  (though 
less  frequently  than  the  rock  below)  traversed  by  veins  or 
cross  courses  of  a  more  recent  origin  than  the  dykes  (which 
latter  they  usually  cross  at  a  high  angle),  their  course  usually 
being  at  an  angle  of  at  least  sixty  degrees,  opposed  to  the  line 
of  bearing  of  the  mixed  rock.  These  cross  veins  are  usually 
made  up  of  calcareous  spar  or  a  sub-granular  limestone,  and 
more  rarely  of  some  variety  of  quartz  and  imperfect  trap  rock, 
the  latter  of  which  is  usually  of  the  amygdaloid  variety. 

BED  SANDSTONE  AND  SHALES. 

That  rock  to  which  I  have  applied  the  name  of  red  sand- 
stone is  emphatically  the  chief  rock  that  appears  upon  the 
immediate  coast  of  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  and  the 
same  remark  will  apply,  in  a  more  limited  degree,  to  the  com- 
plete coast  of  the  lake.  A  traveler  proceeding  westerly 
along  the  coast,  from  Grand  Island  to  the  head  of  the  lake, 
would  imagine  he  had  seen  little  else  than  red  sandstone,  and 
in  fact,  were  he  to  confine  his  examinations  to  the  immediate 
coast,  he  would  see  no  other  rock  for  nineteen-twentieths  of 
the  distance.  From  Grand  Island  westerly  to  the  mouth  of 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  189 

Chocolate  Eiver,  no  other  rock  is  seen  in  place,  and  from 
Chocolate  Eiver  to  Keweenaw  Point,  embracing  the  complete 
width  of  the  primary,  metamorphic  and  trap  ranges,  the  hills 
forming  these  groups  are  almost  invariably  surrounded  or 
flanked  at  their  bases  by  this  sandrock,  so  that  even  along  this 
portion,,  the  hills  are,  for  a  large  proportion  of  the  distance, 
cut  off  from  the  lake  by  a  narrow  belt  of  the  rock  under  con- 
sideration, and  westerly  from  Keweenaw  Point  to  the  head  of 
Lake  Superior  no  other  rock  appear  upon  the  coast,  if  we 
except  several  trap  dykes  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Porcupine 
Mountains,  and  a  series  of  more  recent  deposits  of  clay  and 
sand  that  appear  west  from  Keweenaw  Point.  This  sand  rock 
also  occurs  upon  the  southerly  side  of  Isle  Eoyale. 

The  material  of  which  the  red  saudrock  is  composed  differs 
widely  from  that  of  the  sedimentary  rocks  before  described, 
for  while  the  rocks  last  referred  to  are  made  up  of  materials 
clearly  of  trappean  origin,  and  in  which  the  material  is  very 
rarely  quartz,  the  rock  under  consideration  is  composed  of 
materials,  the  predominating  portions  of  which  are  clearly  de- 
rived from  the  granitic  and  metamorphic  rocks,  and  in  which 
quartz  occurs  abundantly,  though  with  this,  there  is  usually 
associated  more  or  less  sand,  that  has  all  the  characters  of  the 
comminuted  trap,  constituting  that  portion  of  the  mixed  rock 
before  referred  to.  Magnetic  iron  sand  sometimes  becomes  a 
constituent  of  the  red  sandrock,  and  occasionally  continuous 
strata  of  several  inches  thickness,  are  almost  wholly  composed 
of  this  material.  The  material  composing  this  rock  is  usually 
cemented  by  calcareous  matter  highly  colored  by  the  per  oxid 
of  iron,  though  not  unfrequently  these  are  associated  with 
argillaceous  matter. 

While  the  chief  mass  of  the  rock  is  a  coarse  grained,  some- 
what compact  sandrock,  there  are  portions  of  the  formation 
where  there  are  well  formed  red  and  grey  flags,  and  red  and 
green  shales,  forming,  as  it  were,  beds  of  a  very  considerable 
thickness  and  occupying  large  districts  of  country.  These  red 
and  green  shales  are  more  largely  developed  in  that  district 
extending  from  Granite  Point  westerly  to  Keweenaw  Bay,  and 


190  APPENDIX. 

upon  the  south  side  of  Keweenaw  Point,  extending  from  the 
head  of  the  bay  to  near  the  extremity  of  the  point  they  are 
particularly  largely  developed.  These  shales  more  usually 
occur  in  alternating  bands  of  deep  red  and  green  colors,  the 
red  usually  largely  predominating,  and  they  are  made  up  of 
argillaceous  matter,  with  sand,  the  whole  of  the  materials 
being  of  extreme  fineness. 

On  the  south-east  side  of  Keweenaw  Bay,  near  its  head,  an 
argillaceous  rock  appears,  and  extends  for  a  short  distance 
along  the  coast  which  is  an  anomaly.  The  rock  is  evidently 
embraced  in,  or  rather  may  be  said  to  constitute  a  member  of 
the  sandstone  series,  but  it  differs  widely  from  any  other  rock 
seen  in  connection  with  it.  This  argillaceous  rock  sometimes 
appears  in  the  form  of  a  slate,  though  its  most  usual  form  is 
that  of  compact  strata,  frequently  of  several  inches  thickness, 
and  which  closely  resembles  indurated  clay.  A  peculiar 
appearance  is  given  to  this  rock  by  the  innumerable  layers  or 
very  thin  strata  which  compose  the  mass,  being  of  different 
colors,  sometimes  red,  grey  and  dark  brown,  alternating  in  the 
same  hard  specimen. 

The  material  of  which  this  argillaceous  rock  is  composed 
possesses  an  extreme  degree  of  fineness,  and  is  so  soft  as 
readily  to  be  cut  with  the  knife,  which  qualities  render  it  a  fit 
material  for  the  manufacture  of  pipes,  to  which  purpose  the 
Indians  of  the  country  have  long  applied  it.  It  has  also  been 
applied  to  use  in  sharpening  tools,  but  its  softness  is  a  seri- 
ous objection  to  its  use  for  that  purpose. 

A  similar  argillaceous  rock  also  appears  at  several  other 
points  in  the  interior  or  southerly  from  that  already  described, 
but  as  yet  I  have  been  unable  to  determine  its  thickness  at  any 
point.  The  finely  represented  bands  or  zones,  which  may 
fairly  be  supposed  to  represent  the  original  lines  of  deposition, 
are  very  much  contorted,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  lead  to 
the  conclusion  that  this  change  must  have  taken  place  very 
soon  after  the  deposition  of  the  rocks  and  while  they  were 
still  in  an  unindurated  state. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  191 

The  rocks  belonging  to  the  red  sandstone  formation  bear 
the  evidence  of  having  been  almost  universally  deposited  in 
shoal  water,  for  ripple  marks  occur  abundantly  at  all  points 
where  the  rock  takes  on  the  decided  character  of  sandrock, 
and  these  ripple  marks  may  frequently  be  seen,  for  many  rods 
together,  as  distinctly  and  clearly  defined  as  they  are  at  the 
present  day  in  the  loose  sands  forming  the  bottom  of  some  of 
the  shoal  bays  of  Lake  Superior.  Fossils  are  rare  in  the  red 
sandstone,  and  in  fact,  I  have  never  seen  any  other  than  fuco- 
ides,  of  which  there  are  three  species,  that  are  tolerably  well 
defined. 

The  red  sandrock  is  less  frequently  traversed  by  dykes  of 
trap  than  either  of  the  rocks  before  described,  though  dykes 
were  sometimes  noticed  traversing  the  whole  of  the  several 
rock  formations  up  to  and  including  the  red  sandstone.  Upon 
portions  of  the  north  coast,  where  the  conglomerate  and  mixed 
rocks  are  more  frequently  wanting,  and  where  the  red  sand- 
rock  is  brought  more  nearly  in  contact  with  the  trap,  these 
dykes  are  of  more  frequent  occurrence.  It  is  deserving  of 
remark,  that  where  the  lower  rocks  are  either  wholly  or  in 
part  wanting,  the  red  sandstone  usually  becomes  of  a  deep 
brown  color,  and  the  material  of  which  the  sand  is  composed, 
gradually  changes  from  that  before  described  to  greenstone. 

I  have  already  stated  that  the  sandrock,  at  its  westerly  pro- 
longation, attains  its  greatest  thickness,  which  was  estimated 
at  6,500  feet,  but  as  the  rock  continues  easterly  it  gradually 
and  quite  regularly  diminishes  in  thickness,  and  beyond  Saut 
de  Ste.  Marie  the  thickness  is  very  inconsiderable.  The  ave- 
rage rate  of  diminution  which  takes  place  in  the  thickness  of 
the  rock  as  we  proceed  easterly,  was  shown  by  a  great  number 
of  observations  upon  the  south-westerly  portions  of  the  coast 
of  Lake  Superior  to  be  a  fraction  over  fifteen  feet  to  the  mile, 
but  this  rate  of  decrease  could  not  be  satisfactorily  estimated 
upon  the  lower  or  easterly  half  of  the  coast.  The  red  sand- 
rock  thins  out  as  we  proceed  southerly  or  inland  from  the 
coast  at  a  still  more  rapid  rate,  as  was  most  satisfactorily 
shown  where  it  is  connected  with  the  several  primary,  meta- 


192  APPENDIX. 

morphic  and  trap  ranges  of  hills,  for  all  or  nearly  all  the 
valleys,  after  passing  the  outer  or  northerly  range  of  trap 
hills  are  based  upon  this  sandrock,  and  since  we  have  every 
reason  to  believe  that  this  sandrock  was  deposited  in  part 
during  the  gradual  elevation  of  the  several  chains  of  hills  it 
would  follow  that  over  those  districts  which  were  last  elevated 
the  rock  would  attain  its  greatest  thickness.  I  have  already 
alluded  to  the  order  in  which  the  several  ranges  of  hills 
appear  to  have  been  uplifted,  and  since  more  particular  refer- 
ence will  be  made  to  this  hereafter  I  leave  the  subject  for  the 
present. 

The  red  sandrock  south  from  Lake  Superior,  as  well  as 
upon  the  immediate  coast,  dips  regularly  northerly,  while 
that  upon  the  north  coast  dips  invariably  southerly,  or,  as  has 
already  been  said  of  the  lower  rocks,  this  rock  dips  upon  all 
sides  regularly  into  the  basin  of  the  lake.  The  quantity  of 
dip  is  exceedingly  variable,  being  always  very  much  increased 
as  it  approaches  the  trap,  and  diminishing  as  it  approaches 
the  primary  and  metamorphic  ranges. 

The  line  of  cleavage  of  some  of  the  members  of  the  lower 
sandrock  and  shales  is  frequently  irregular  and  opposed  to  the 
true  stratification  of  the  rock. 

UPPER  OR  GRAY  SANDROCK. 

The  only  remaining  rock  which  separates  the  red  sandrock 
from  the  limestones  lying  to  the  south  is  a  gray  or  brownish 
sandrock,  that  is  almost  wholly  composed  of  grains  of  quartz, 
usually  feebly  cemented  with  calcareous  matter.  The  com- 
position of  this  rock  differs  from  that  of  the  lower  sandrock, 
in  being  more  exclusively  quartz,  while  in  epoch  of  deposition 
the  rock  under  consideration  should  not  be  confounded  with 
that  of  the  red  sandstone.  It  has  already  been  stated  that  the 
red  sandrock  of  the  south  coast  dips  regularly  northerly, 
while  the  upper  or  gray  sandstone  dips  equally  regularly 
south  or  south-easterly,  in  which  respect  the  last  mentioned 
rock  conforms  to  the  limestones  resting  upon  it,  while  it  rests 
itself  upon  the  uptilted  edge  of  the  red  sandrock  below. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  193 

I  have  already  stated  that  this  rock  was  first  noticed  rising 
in  hills  at  a  point  not  far  distant  from  Eiviere  Ste.  Marie,  and 
south-east  from  Point  Iroquois;  from  this  point  it  stretches 
westerly  in  an  elevated  and  very  regular  chain  of  hills  that 
are  upon  the  coast,  as  far  as  Tequoimenon  Bay,  westerly  from 
which  the  shape  of  the  coast  is  such  that  these  hills  do  not 
again  appear  upon  it,  until  we  reach  that  precipitous  portion 
of  the  lake  coast  known  as  the  Pictured  Kocks,  where  the 
fury  of  the  waves,  aided  by  frost,  has  acted  upon  the  feebly 
cemented  material  of  which  the  rock  is  composed  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  leave  large  portions  of  what  was  originally  the 
northern  escarpment  of  these  hills  along  this  coast  in  high 
mural  and  overhanging  precipices.  Westerly  from  the 
Pictured  Eocks  the  ranges  of  hills  which  are  composed  or 
made  up  of  this  rock  stretch  in  a  south-westerly  direction, 
passing  completely  to  the  south  of  the  primary,  trap  and 
inetarnorphic  regions.  The  westerly  prolongation  of  this  rock 
has  not  yet  been  determined. 

The  upper  sandrock,  like  the  lower,  abounds  in  clearly 
defined  ripple  marks,  and  its  line  of  cleavage  is  very  irregu- 
lar, frequently  being  opposed  to  the  line  of  stratification  over 
very  considerable  districts  of  country.  Two  indistinct  species 
of  fucoides  were  all  the  fossils  noticed  in  connection  with  it. 

I  was  unable  to  obtain  any  observations  upon  the  thickness 
of  the  upper  sandrock,  which  were  satisfactory,  but  from  the 
imperfect  observations  which  were  obtained  I  was  led  to  con- 
clude that  the  average  thickness  as  far  westerly  as  the 
Pictured  Eocks  does  not  vary  very  far  from  700  feet.  The 
upper  sandrock,  like  the  rocks  before  mentioned,  wedges  out 
as  we  proceed,  in  an  easterly  direction. 

TERTIARY  CLAYS  AN.D  SANDS. 

As  in  the  lower,  so  in  the  upper  peninsula,  the  older  rocks 
are  more  or  less  covered  by  deposits  that  may  be  severally 
arranged  under  the  above  head.  To  these  deposits  it  is  my 
intention  at  the  present  time  barely  to  allude. 

(13) 


194  APPENDIX. 

Stratified  clays  and  sands  similar  to  those  skirting  the 
borders  of  the  lower  peninsula  are  seen  at  many  points,  and 
continue  for  long  distances  upon  the  coast  of  Lake  Superior; 
and  they  are  also  largely  developed  at  many  points  in  the 
interior  of  the  country.  These  deposits  sometimes  attain  a 
thickness  of  from  200  to  300  feet,  and  they  are  spread  over  the 
less  elevated  portions  of  the  district  The  character  of  these 
clays  and  sands  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  those  described  in 
a  previous  report,  as  occurring  upon  the  lower  peninsula. 


ECONOMICAL  GEOLOGY. 
Rocks. 

The  series  of  limerocks  resting  upon  the  sandrock  last 
described  were  noticed  in  the  report  which  was  laid  before 
you  at  a  previous  session,  and  the  limits  of  the  present  report 
will  not  permit  me  to  refer  to  them  more  fully  at  this  time. 
My  observations  will,  therefore,  only  include  those  rocks 
which  lie  below  the  limestones.  It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that 
the  whole  of  the  group  of  limestones  are  embraced  in  the 
southerly  portion  of  the  upper  peninsula,  and  that  their  out- 
cropping edges  do  not  reach  within  many  miles  of  the  coast  of 
Lake  Superior.  This  is  an  important  fact,  for  it  shows  the 
whole  of  the  northern  part  of  the  upper  peninsula  to  be 
deficient  in  materials  for  the  manufacture  of  lime,  which  are, 
in  truth,  wholly  wanting. 

Materials  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  building  abound 
throughout  the  district  of  country  under  consideration,  and 
though  they  vary  exceedingly  in  value  for  that  purpose,  yet 
no  portion  of  the  country  can  be  said  to  be  without  a  supply. 

Among  the  most  valuable  of  the  materials  for  this  purpose 
the  syenites  and  syentic  granites  deservedly  rank  first,  and 
they  occur  of  a  quality  which  may  be  advantageously  worked 
at  various  points  in  the  primary  range.  Some  of  the  syenites 
near  the  coast  of  the  lake  are  so  situated  as  to  be  readily 
quarried,  and  they  may  be  made  to  furnish  a  beautiful  and 
durable  material  for  building  The  color  of  these  syenites  is 


FIRST   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  195 

usually  a  very  dark  gray,  from  the  predominance  of  hornblend 
in  the  composition,  but  this  is  by  no  means  invariably  the 
case. 

The  metamorphic  group  scarcely  furnishes  a  fit  material 
for  use  as  a  building  stone,  for  the  structure  of  its  schists 
would  be  an  effectual  bar  against  their  use,  and  the  difficulties 
of  working  the  quartz  rock  will  probably  prevent  that  rock 
being  applied  to  that  purpose. 

Some  of  the  compact  greenstones  and  altered  syenites  of 
the  trap  range  may  be  made  to  furnish  an  excellent  building 
stone,  which,  although  in  powers  of  resisting  the  action  of 
disintegrating  agents  may  be  less  than  that  of  the  unchanged 
syenite,  nevertheless  possess  a  very  great  degree  of  dura- 
bility. The  greenstone  ranges  of  hills  frequently  for  very 
considerable  distances  are  made  up  of  rock  in  which  the 
jointed  structure  is  so  perfectly  developed  that  regular  blocks 
of  a  convenient  size  for  building  may  be  obtained  with  com- 
paratively little  labor. 

The  conglomerate  rock  is  scarcely  applicable  to  use  for 
purposes  of  building. 

A  very  good  building  stone  may  be  obtained  from  many 
portions  of  the  lower  or  red  sandstone  formation,  and  though 
the  cement  of  this  rock  is  usually  not  very  perfect,  yet  frequently 
such  changes  have  taken  place  in  the  rock  that  it  has  almost 
taken  on  the  character  of  granular  quartz  rock,  in  which  cases 
its  durability  is  very  much  increased.  The  strata  of  this  rock 
are  usually  of  a  convenient  thickness  to  admit  of  being  easily 
quarried,  and  they  are  so  regular  that  the  stone  will  require 
but  little  dressing. 

The  upper,  or  gray  sandrock,  being  almost  uniformly  but 
feebly  cemented  and  sometimes  decidedly  friable,  is  of  less 
value  as  a  building  stone  than  either  of  the  rocks  before  men- 
tioned. Those  portions  of  the  upper  sandrock  where  the  cal- 
careous cement  is  perfect,  but  not  sufficiently  hardened,  might 
be  rendered  much  more  capable  of  resisting  the  action  of  the 
elements  if  allowed  to  remain  under  shelter  a  sufficient  length 
of  time  to  allow  this  change  to  take  place. 


196  APPENDIX. 

The  value  of  the  limestones  of  the  southern  part  of  the 
peninsular,  for  the  purposes  of  building,  as  also  for  the  manu- 
facture of  lime,  was  mentioned  in  a  previous  report  upon  the 
geology  of  that  district  of  country.  As  has  already  been 
stated,  these  limerocks  do  not  reach  within  many  miles  of  the 
coast  of  Lake  Superior,  and  it  is  certainly  to  be  regretted,  that 
the  shore  of  the  northern  portion  of  the  peninsular  is  destitute 
of  this  important  material.  Nor  have  I  seen  any  marls  of  suf- 
ficent  extent  in  the  district  to  admit  of  application  to  any  of 
the  purposes  to  which  it  is  applicable,  or  to  supply,  even  in 
part,  the  deficiency  in  limestone.  All  the  lime  which  would 
appear  to  be  capable  of  being  applied  to  practical  purposes  is 
that  of  the  calcareous  spar,  composing  the  veins  traversing  the 
sandrock,  and  these  are  not  only  rare,  but  they  are  also  of 
very  limited  extent. 

MINERALS  AND  MINERAL  VEINS. 

In  considering  this  portion  of  the  subject,  I  propose  to  treat 
the  minerals  of  the  different  formations  separately,  so  far  as 
the  same  can  be  done,  and,  although  this  method  will  neces- 
sarily cause  some  repetition,  it  will  enable  me  to  show  more 
perfectly  than  could  otherwise  be  done,  the  connection  be- 
tween those  minerals  that  may  be  regarded  as  of  practical  value 
and  the  rocks  to  which  they  belong. 

As  a  whole,  the  rocks  of  the  upper  peninsula  are  deficient 
in  number  of  minerals,  though  some  few  individual  species  occur 
abundantly. 

Minerals  of  the  Primary  Rocks. 

The  following  list  can  by  no  means  be  regarded  as  perfect, 
but  it  will  serve,  at  least,  to  convey  an  idea  of  the  small  num- 
ber of  minerals  which  are  found  in  connection  with  the  rocks 
of  this  group  : 

Schorl,  Mica, 

Tourmaline,  Feldsdar, 

Hornblende,  "        red, 

Actynolite,  Quartz. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OP   MICHIGAN.  197 

Minerals  of  the  Metamorphic  Group  of  Rocks. 

Quartz,  common,  Iron,  scaly  red  oxid  of, 

"      milky,  "    haematite, 

"     greasy,  "    pyritous, 

"    tabular,  Steatite, 

Serpentine,  common,  Eovaculite. 

Of  the  minerals  enumerated  as  occurring  in  the  metamor- 
phic  rocks,  the  milky  variety  of  quartz  is  abundant,  sometimes 
composing  almost  entire  ranges  of  hills.  The  novaculite  is 
also  abundant,  but  of  coarse  variety.  This  last  is  associated 
with  the  talcose  slates.  The  remaining  minerals  appear  either 
disseminated  or  forming  druses  in  the  quartz  rock,  though 
sometimes  they  occur  in  thin  beds  or  veins,  in  the  talcose  slate, 
which  beds  conform  to  the  line  of  cleavage  of  that  rock.  Al- 
though the  haematite  is  abundantly  disseminated  through  all 
the  rocks  of  the  metamorphic  group,  it  does  not  appear  in  suf- 
ficient quantity  at  any  one  point  that  has  been  examined  to  be 
of  practical  importance. 

Minerals  of  the  Trap  Rocks. 

Quartz,  common,  Steatite,  common, 

I  l     smoky,  Asbestus, 

"  milky,  Amianthus, 

"  greasy,  Calcareous  spar, 

"  radiated,  Copper,  native, 

"  mainillary,  "      pyritous, 

II  drusy,  "      black, 

"     amethystine,  "      red  oxid  of, 

Chalcedony,  "     azure  carbonate  of, 

Carnelian,  "      green  carbonate  of, 

Jasper,  "          "         "  ferruginous, 

Agate,  common,  Lead,  sulphuret  of, 

"    fortification,  "      carbonate  of, 

Augite,  Iron,  pyritous, 
Actynolite  "    red  oxid  of, 

Serpetine,  "    hydrate  of, 

"        pseudomorphous,  "    silicate  of, 

Chlorite,  common,  Manganese,  ferruginous  oxid  of, 

"        earthy,  Silver,  native,  (very  rare.) 


198  APPENDIX. 

Since  a  consideration  of  the  minerals  contained  in  the  trap, 
will  also  involve  a  portion  of  those  embraced  in  the  conglome- 
rate, the  mixed  rock,  and  red  sandrock  and  shales,  I  will, 
before  referring  minutely  to  those  of  the  trap  rocks,  lay  before 
you  a  list  of  those  which  occur  most  frequently  in  the  sedi- 
mentary rocks  last  mentioned.  The  fact  that  veins  of  mineral 
matter,  traversing  the  trap,  are  frequently  continued  across 
the  several  sedimentary  rocks,  and  that  dykes  are  of  frequent 
occurrence  in  these  latter  rocks,  would  lead  to  the  inference 
that  there  would  be  a  considerable  degree  of  resemblance  in 
the  character  of  the  minerals  embraced  in  these  dykes  and 
veins,  in  both  the  trap  and  sedimentary  rocks  and  to  a  certain 
extent,  this  inference  would  be  true ;  but  it  should  be  borne 
in  mind,  as  has  already  been  stated,  that  the  veins,  in  travers- 
ing the  several  upper  rocks,  undergo  very  great  changes  in 
mineral  character. 

Minerals  of  the  Conglomerate,  Mixed  Rock  and  Red  Sandrock. 

Calcareous  spar  Copper,  native,  f 

Quartz,  common,  "      pyritous,f 

"      milky,  "      blue  carb.  of,  f 

"      drusy,  lt      green  carb.  of,f 

Chalcedony,*  "      earthy  green  carb.  of,  f 

Carnelian,*  "      black,  f 

Jaspar,*  Zinc,  siliceous  oxid  of, 

Agate,*  "     carbonate  of, 

Iron,  pyritous, 

"  black  oxid  of,  (cemented  iron  sand,) 

"  red  oxid  of, 

"  hydrate  of, 

"  silicate  of. 


*Occasionally  occurring  among  the  pebbles  constituting  the  mass  of  the  conglo. 
merate. 

tChiefly  in  those  portions  of  the  veins  traversing  the  conglomerate. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF   MICHIGAN.  199 

Mineral  Veins  of  the  Trap,  Conglomerate,  etc. 

In  order  to  render  the  subject  of  the  mineral  veins  travers-. 
ing  the  above  rock  so  far  intelligible  as  may  be  in  my  power, 
I  have  already  been  particular  to  define,  as  far  as  could  be 
done  without  maps  and  sections,  the  relation  which  the  trap 
rocks,  together  with  the  superincumbent  conglomerate,  mixed 
sand  and  conglomerate  and  red  sandrock  bear  to  each  other, 
and  it  will  be  necessary  in  considering  the  mineral  contents  of 
these  rocks  and  the  veins  traversing  them  to  keep  this  relation 
constantly  and  clearly  in  view. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  the  north-westerly  range  of  hills, 
commencing  at  the  extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point  and  stretch- 
ing from  thence  in  a  south-westerly  direction  into  the  interior, 
were  referred  to  as  being  more  clearly  of  trappose  origin  than 
either  of  the  other  ranges,  and  that  the  rock  of  the  southerly 
portion  of  this  range  is  either  compact  greenstone  or  altered 
syenite,  while  that  of  the  northerly  flank  is  almost  invariably 
either  an  amygdaloid  or  a  rock  approaching  to  toadstone. 

The  several  ranges  of  hills  to  the  south  of  that  last  alluded 
to  are  either  well  formed,  compact  greenstones,  altered  syenite 
or,  as  we  approach  the  primary  range,  imperfectly  formed 
granites.  So  far  as  the  several  ranges  of  hills  lying  south 
from  the  northerly  range  are  concerned,  they  would  appear  to 
be,  as  a  whole,  deficient  in  minerals,  and  the  rocks  are  not 
apparently  traversed  by  veins  or  dykes  of  any  more  recent 
date  than  that  of  the  uplift  of  the  northerly  trap  hills. 

Veins  clearly  of  a  date  posterior  to  the  uplift  of  that  por- 
tion of  the  trap  rock  last  mentioned  are  of  frequent  occur- 
rence, and  these  veins  not  only  traverse  a  portion  of  the  trap 
range,  but  also  pass  into  the  conglomerate,  and  sometimes 
completely  across  the  three  sedimentary  rocks  immediately 
above  the  trap,  thus  having  an  unbroken  length  of  several 
miles.  The  class  of  veins  to  which  I  now  allude,  where  they 
occur  in  a  connected  or  continuous  portion  of  the  range  rarely 
vary  more  than  12  to  15  deg.  from  a  right  angle  to  the  line  of 
bearing  of  the  sedimentary  rocks,  and  in  pursuing  this  course 


200  APPENDIX. 

they  necessarily  cut  across  the  dykes  of  trap  before  alluded  to 
as  so  frequently  appearing  between  the  strata,  and  conforming 
to  the  dip  of  the  lower  sedimentary  rocks. 

That  the  veins  under  consideration  belong  to  a  single  epoch 
is  inferred  from  the  fact  that  none  have  been  noticed  with 
other  veins  crossing  them,  as  also  for  the  reason  that  none 
have  ever  been  noticed  with  dislocations,  heaves  or  disturb- 
ance of  any  kind,  save  what  may  be  referred  to  causes  con- 
nected with  their  immediate  origin. 

That  these  veins  must  be  regarded  in  the  strictest  sense  as 
true  veins,  cannot  be  doubted,  and  that  their  origin  or  source 
over  the  extended  district  alluded  to  has  been  the  same  is 
inferred  from  the  perfect  identity  of  their  mineral  contents, 
for  a  description  of  one  of  these  true  veins  may  be  said  to  be 
essentially  a  description  of  the  whole.  Thus,  while  the 
mineral  contents  of  the  different  portions  of  the  same  vein 
change  as  the  rock  traversed  changes,  the  corresponding  por- 
tions of  different  veins  almost  invariably  bear  a  striking  and 
close  resemblance  to  each  other. 

These  veins,  as  has  already  been  stated,  where  they 
traverse  connected  ranges  of  the  trap  are  regular  in  course 
and  direction,  but  when  they  are  connected  with  a  single 
uplifted  knob  of  that  rock  they  are  irregular  and  can  scarcely 
be  denned,  appearing  in  the  latter  instance  rather  as  matter 
injected  into  the  fissures  of  a  shattered  mass  of  rock  than  as 
connected  veins. 

The  importance  of  carefully  studying  the  relation  which 
these  veins  bear  to  the  rocks  which  they  traverse,  as  also  the 
relation  which  they  bear  to  the  numerous  trap  dykes,  together 
with  the  few  cotemporaneous  veins  noticed  in  the  trap,  is 
very  much  increased  by  the  circumstance  that  these  veins  are 
more  or  less  connected  with  or  rather  contain  metallic  mate- 
rials which,  it  may  be  fairly  inferred,  will  hereafter  become  of 
very  considerable  practical  importance.  In  fact,  so  far  as  we 
may  be  enabled  to  judge  from  the  examinations  already  made  in 
this  district  of  country,  it  is  confidently  believed  that  most,  if 
not  all  the  metalliferious  veins  of  the  upper  peninsula  belong 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  201 

to  veins  of  the  epoch  of  those  under  consideration.  It  is  true 
that  native  metals,  more  particularly  copper,  are  sometimes 
found  in  place  occupying  the  joints  or  natural  septae  of  the 
greenstone,  but  in  these  instances  the  amount  of  metal  is 
always  comparatively  small,  and,  with  one  or  two  exceptions, 
I  have  invariably  been  able  to  establish  some  connection  be- 
tween the  native  metal  occupying  these  joints  and  the  ter- 
mination of  some  metalliferous  vein  that  traverses  other  por- 
tions of  the  rock  not  far  distant,  and  it  is  believed  that  the 
metal  filling  these  joints  has  invariably  resulted  from  the 
action  of  causes  precisely  analagous  to  those  which  have  placed 
similar  metals  in  the  veins  to  which  I  have  alluded. 

The  earliest,  as  well  as  all  travelers  who  have  visited  the 
district  of  country  under  consideration,  have  not  failed  to  make 
frequent  allusion  to  the  loose  masses  of  native  copper  that  have 
been  occasionally  found  scattered  over  it,  nor  has  any  one  failed 
to  allude  to  the  large  bowlder  or  loose  mass  of  that  metal  upon 
the  Ontonagon  River.  Almost  invariably,  the  opinion  has 
been  expressed,  from  the  frequent  occurrence  of  these  masses, 
that  the  metal  must  be  abundant  in  the  country.  But,  after 
all,  the  true  sources  from  which  these  masses  had  their  origin, 
or  the  relation  which  they  held  to  the  rocks  of  the  district 
would  appear  never  to  have  been  understood  ;  and  all  or  nearly 
all  that  was  known  of  their  true  relations  was  left  to  conjee 
ture.  The  result  of  this  has  been,  that  while  some  have 
excessively  magnified  everything  connected  with  the  subject  of 
which,  in  truth,  nothing  was  known,  another  class,  equally  far 
from  what  is  really  true,  have  regarded  these  masses  of  native 
copper  as  bowlders  transported  from  high  northern  latitudes.* 


*The  vast  area  of  country  over  which  the  bowlders  of  native  copper,  from  the  district 
under  consideration,  together  with  its  westerly  prolongation,  have  been  transported  is 
worthy  of  remark.  They  are  not  of  unfrequent  occurrence  in  the  sand  and  gravel  of  the 
southern  peninsula  of  Michigan,  and  since  the  commencement  of  the  geological  survey 
many  of  these  masses  have  been  met,  some  of  which  weigh  from  seven  to  eight  pounds. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Green  Bay  a  mass  was  discovered  some  ten  years  ago  which  weighed  140 
pounds,  if  my  memory  serves  me  correctly.  Loose  masses  of  a  similar  character  have 
been  met  with  in  various  other  portions  of  Wisconsin,  as  also  at  various  points  in 
Illinois,  Indiana  and  Ohio.  In  these  cases  the  occurrence  of  these  masses  of  native 
copper  are  no  more  indications  of  the  existence  of  veins  of  the  metal  in  the  immediate 
vicinity,  than  are  the  immense  numbers  of  primary  bowlders  scattered  over  the  southern 
peninsula  of  Michigan  indications  of  the  existence  of  primary  rock  in  place,  in  the  dis- 
trict where  they  are  found. 


202  APPENDIX. 

As  far  back  as  1831  and  1832  I  had  occasion  to  pass  no  less 
than  three  times  along  the  south  coast  of  Lake  Superior,  as 
also  to  ascend  several  of  the  important  tributaries  of  that  lake, 
and  during  these  years  I  passed  by  three  different  routes, 
widely  separated  from  each  other  completely  across  to  the 
Mississippi  River.  It  is  true  that  these  journeys  made  through 
a  complete  wilderness,  uninhabited  except  by  savages,  were 
necessarily  made  under  circumstances  that  admitted  of  only 
very  general  observations  j  but  the  result  of  these  previous 
examinations  have  proved  of  immense  service  to  me  in  aiding 
the  labors  of  the  past  season.  I  allude  to  these  journeys  and 
examinations  at  this  time,  in  order  to  show  you  the  difficulties 
by  which  a  full  understanding  of  the  subject  under  considera- 
tion is  surrounded,  for  I  became  satisfied  at  that  time,  not  only 
that  the  subject  was  not  understood  by  the  mass  of  those  who 
had  traversed  the  country,  but  that  even  the  natives  of  the 
country  had  no  knowledge  of  the  true  sources  from  which  the 
transported  masses  of  copper  had  their  origin. 

During  the  time  of  the  examinations  referred  to  a  bare 
glimmer  of  light  was  thrown  upon  the  subject  by  an  examina- 
tion of  some  small  masses  of  copper  found  occupying  the 
joints  of  the  greenstone  ;  as  also  by  the  examination  of  a 
single  vein  in  the  conglomerate,  containing  the  ores  of  copper, 
which  has  since  been  found  to  be  the  termination  of  a  vein 
that  is  somewhat  obscurely  continued  from  the  trap  region. 

While  these  examinations  were  sufficient  to  enable  me  to 
draw  the  inference  that  the  masses  of  native  copper  came  chiefly, 
if  not  wholly  from  the  trap,  and  more  rarely  from  those  sedi- 
mentary rocks  resting  immediately  upon  it,  it  was  supposed  that 
this  occurrence  would  follow  the  general  law,  and  that  it,  to- 
gether with  the  other  ores  of  the  metal,  would  occur  in  greatest 
abundance  near  the  line  of  junction  of  this  rock,  with  the  over- 
laying sedimentary  rocks.  Nothing,  or  at  least  very  little,  was 
known  of  the  true  extent  or  range  of  the  trap  rocks,  and  the 
very  great  inaccuracies  in  the  published  maps  of  the  country, 
rendered  it  almost  impossible  to  apply  even  the  data  on  hand 
to  such  purpose  as  to  relieve  the  embarrasment. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  203 

With  a  full  knowledge  of  these  difficulties  I  determined 
during  the  past  season  to  endeavor  to  surmount  them  by  so 
far  adding  to  our  geographical  knowledge  of  the  coast  of  the 
lake  and  its  immediate  vicinity  as  to  enable  me  to  place  what- 
ever geological  observations  of  importance  might  be  made  in 
such  condition  that  the  relation  of  the  several  parts  might  be 
understood.  Having  sufficiently  accomplished  this  I  pro- 
ceeded to  a  very  minute  examination  of  the  several  rocks 
overlaying  or  resting  against  the  trap,  together  with  a  deter- 
mination of  the  thickness  of  the  several  members  and  their 
rate  of  decrease  or  wedging  to  the  east.  With  these  data  I 
was  enabled,  by  noting  the  dip  of  the  rock  upon  the  coast,  to 
determine,  with  sufficient  accuracy  for  the  purposes  to  which 
the  rule  was  to  be  applied,  the  line  of  junction  between  the 
trap  and  conglomerate  rocks.  This  rule  when  put  in  practice 
enabled  me  to  decide  with  a  very  considerable  degree  of 
certainty  this  line  of  junction,  when  the  rocks  were  covered 
with  a  very  considerable  thickness  of  detrital  matter,  and 
when  so  covered  I  was  enabled  by  traversing  the  country  on 
the  line  of  bearing  of  the  upper  rocks  the  more  readily  to 
gain  access  to  such  points  as  would  admit  of  examination. 

These  observations  soon  showed  me  that  this  line  of  junc- 
tion between  the  trap  rock  and  the  south  edge  of  the  conglo- 
merate, instead  of  pursuing  a  course  parallel  to  the  coast, 
only  continued  its  parallelism  for  a  few  miles  westerly  from 
the  extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point,  after  which  for  a  long  dis- 
tance it  recedes  from  the  coast  rapidly.  These  facts  served  to 
explain  in  part  why  the  subject  of  the  origin  of  the  masses 
of  copper  had  remained  a  mystery,  for  the  country  through 
which  this  line  passes  is  hardly  ever  passed  over  even  by  the 
Indians,  and  probably  large  portions  of  it  have  never  been 
passed  over  by  whites,  but  in  addition  to  this  the  obscure 
character  of  the  metalliferous  veins  is  such  that  they  would 
scarcely  attract  the  observation  of  the  traveler  whose  atten- 
tion was  not  called  especially  to  the  subject,  for  many  of  the 
richest  ores  are  so  far  from  having  the  appearance  of  the  pure 
metal  that  they  would  be  the  last  suspected  to  contain  it  in 
any  form. 


204  APPENDIX. 

That  the  connection  of  these  ores  with  the  containing  rocks 
was  not  understood  by  the  English  mining  company  whose 
attention  was  turned  to  this  subject  at  an  early  day  is  to  be 
inferred  from  the  fact  that  they  commenced  their  operations 
at  Miners'  Eiver,  where  the  rock  is  the  upper  or  gray  sand- 
stone, which  has  never  been  observed  to  contain  mineral 
veins;  and  also  on  Ontonagon  Eiver,  near  the  mass  of  native 
copper,  at  which  point  a  shaft  was  commenced  and  carried 
about  40  feet  through  a  reddish  clay,  at  which  point  the  red 
sandrock  was  reached.  Now,  although  the  metalliferous 
veins  sometimes  pass  from  the  trap  across  the  red  sandstone, 
these  veins  in  the  red  sandrock  have  never  been  noticed  to 
contain  any  other  ores  than  those  of  zinc  and  iron,  unless  it 
be  at  the  immediate  point  where  the  vein  crossing  comes  in 
contact  with  a  dyke  of  trap,  which  condition  does  not  exist  at 
the  point  alluded  to  on  Ontonagon  Eiver.  What  indications 
could  have  induced  those  Quixotic  trials  at  the  points  where 
they  were  commenced  is  more  than  I  have  been  able  to  divine, 
and  as  might  have  been  anticipated,  the  attempts  resulted  in 
a  failure  to  find  the  object  sought. 

Having  thus  in  a  general  manner  set  forth  the  obscurity  by 
which  the  subject  of  the  true  source  of  the  transported  masses 
of  native  copper  has  been  surrounded,  together  with  some  of 
the  reasons  which  have  served  to  prevent  its  being  fairly 
understood,  I  will  now  proceed  to  a  general  sketch  of  the 
metalliferous  veins  of  the  district,  so  far  as  the  same  have  been 
examined,  premising  that  our  knowledge  of  them  is  still 
deficient  in  very  many  important  particulars  which  can  only 
be  supplied  by  a  careful  and  continued  examination  of  the 
subject,  which,  in  fact,  can  only  be  said  to  be  but  just  com 
menced. 

I  have  had  occasion  to  refer  to  the  outer  or  northerly  range 
of  hills,  or  those  from  which  the  metalliferous  veins  may  be 
said  to  spring  as  being  composed  of  trap  rock,  and  lest  what 
has  been  said  may  not  be  fairly  understood,  I  will  repeat,  that 
the  more  southerly  part  of  the  range  is  uniformly  composed  of 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  205 

compact  greenstone,  under  which  head  I  not  only  include  true 
greenstone,  but  also  those  forms  of  altered  granular  gneiss  and 
gneissoid  granite,  which  sometimes  are  associated  with  it, 
while  the  outer  or  northerly  portion  of  the  same  range  is 
usually  composed  of  an  amygdaloid  form  of  trap.  The  cells 
of  the  amygdaloid  are  usually  filled  with  the  different  varie- 
ties of  quartz,  carnelian,  chalcedony  and  agate,  and  sometimes, 
though  more  rarely,  with  native  copper  or  with  calcareous 
spar,  though  they  are  sometimes  entirely  empty,  constituting 
a  perfect  toadstone. 

The  metalliferious  veins  cross  this  range  or  trap,  usually 
very  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the  prolongation  of  the  hills,  and 
are  frequently  continued  fn  the  same  course  across  the  upper 
or  sedimentary  rocks,  thus  crossing  the  latter  at  an  angle  vary- 
ing but  little  from  their  line  of  bearing.  While  the  continuity 
of  course  of  the  vein  may  remain  perfect  in  its  complete  pass- 
age from  the  greenstone  across  the  several  members  of  the 
conglomerate,  mixed  and  red  sandstone  rocks,  the  character 
and  mineral  contents  of  the  vein  undergoes  essential  change, 
and  not  only  does  the  vein  appear  to  be  influenced  in  its  min- 
eral contents,  but  also  in  its  width,  for,  as  a  general  rule,  the 
width  of  the  vein  increases  as  we  proceed  northerly,  or  from 
the  greenstone.  Thus,  the  vein  which  may  appear  only  a  few 
inches  in  width,  or  as  a  bare  line  in  the  southerly  or  greenstone 
portion  of  the  range,  increases  in  width  rapidly  as  it  ap- 
proaches and  passes  across  the  amygdaloid,  and  at  or  near  the 
line  of  junction  between  the  amygdaloid  and  the  sedimentary 
rocks  it  will  frequently  be  found  to  have  attained  a  thickness 
of  several  feet,  while  in  its  passage  across  the  sedimentary 
rocks  it  is  usually  either  still  further  increased  in  width,  or 
becomes  so  blended  with  the  rock  itself,  as  to  render  it  diffi- 
cult to  define  it  boundaries. 

These  metalliferous  veins,  like  those  which  cccur  under 
similar  circumstances  in  other  portions  of  the  globe,  do  not 
continue  uninterruptedly  of  any  given  width  for  great  dis- 
tances, nor  is  their  width  increased  regularly,  for  they  fre- 
quently ramify  or  branch  off  in  strings,  that  pursue  a  course 


206  APPENDIX. 

generally  somewhat  parallel  to  the  general  direction  of  the 
main  vein,  and  which  eventually  again  unite  with  it.  Some- 
times these  ramifications  or  branches  destroy,  as  it  were,  for  a 
considerable  distance  the  whole  vein;  but  they  at  length  unite 
again,  and  the  main  vein  is,  after  their  junction,  as  perfectly 
developed  as  before. 

While  traversing  the  most  compact  southerly  portions  of 
the  greenstone,  the  veins  are  most  frequently  made  up  of  a 
very  compact  and  finely  granulated  greenstone,  sometimes 
associated  with  steatitic  metals  and  silicate  of  iron,  under 
which  circumstances  they  usually  are  destitute  of  any  other 
metallic  mineral,  but  occasionally,  instead  of  the  materials 
above  mentioned,  their  place  is  supplied  by  native  copper, 
without  vein  stone  or  matrix,  and  usually  free  from  nearly  all 
earthly  impurities,  but  almost  invariably  incrusted  with  oxid 
or  carbonate  of  the  metal.  Those  portions  of  the  vein  travers- 
ing the  greenstone,  in  which  native  copper  occurs,  under  the 
circumstances  above  mentioned,  are  invariably  thin,  rarely 
exceeding  3  to  4  inches  in  thickness  and  usually  considerably 
less,  and  they  are  liable  to  very  considerable  variation  in  width 
from  the  divergence  caused  by  the  vein  traversing  the  joints 
of  the  rock,  where  these  joints  produce  the  same  character  of 
change  as  is  produced  by  the  ordinary  ramification  of  a  vein. 

As  these  metalliferous  veins  traverse  the  northerly  portion 
of  the  range  or  approach  the  sedimentary  rocks,  they  undergo 
a  gradual  change  in  width  as  well  as  in  mineral  character, 
and  it  has  been  noticed  that  where  the  amygdaloid  is  most 
largely  developed,  the  vein,  as  a  general  rule,  has  not  only  a 
greater  width,  but  also  has  its  mineral  contents  more  perfectly . 
developed,  a  circumstance  which  might  fairly  have  been 
inferred  from  the  fact  that  those  points  where  the  amygdaloid 
occurs  most  largely  may  be  regarded  to  have  been  so  many 
centres  of  intensity  of  action  at  the  time  of  the  original  uplift 
of  the  range,  from  which  circumstance  they  would  remain  in 
a  softened  state,  or  in  such  condition  as  to  admit  of  the  more 
perfect  formation  of  these  cross  veins  for  a  longer  space  of 
time  after  that  condition  has  been  passed  at  other  points. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF    MICHIGAN.  207 

In  the  outer  or  amygdaloid  portion  of  the  rock  the  vein  is 
almost  invariably  accompanied  by  a  veinstone  of  quartz, 
involving  all  the  varieties  before  mentioned  as  associated  with 
the  trap  rocks,  which  quartz,  though  occasionally  it  occurs 
massive,  of  several  feet  in  width,  usually  appears  in  the  shape 
of  a  series  of  irregularly  ramifying  and  branching  minor 
veins,  that  may  be  said  to  constitute  the  main  vein.  These 
subordinate  veins  of  quartz,  which  may  be  stated  as  the  true 
veinstone,  vary  from  a  mere  line  to  several  inches  in  thick- 
ness, and  in  the  aggregate  they  may  be  said  to  constitute  from 
one-third  to  one-half  the  total  thickness  of  the  vein.  In  their 
branches  and  ramifications,  they  sometimes  include  portions 
of  the  rock  which  they  traverse,  at  other  times  they  embrace 
imperfectly  formed  steatite,  with  silicate,  carbonate  and  red 
oxyd  of  iron  *  and  occasionally,  though  more  rarely,  it  is 
associated  with  carbonate  of  lime,  usually  assuming  the  form 
of  an  opaque  rhombic  spar. 

As  the  main  vein  traverses  the  conglomerate  and  overlay- 
ing rocks  to,  and  including  the  red  sandstone,  these  veins,  as 
a  general  rule  undergo  still  farther  changes,  for  very  soon 
after  entering  the  conglomerate  the  veinstone  changes  from  its 
quartzose  character  and  is  made  up  either  wholly  of  calcareous 
matter,  mostly  rhomb  spar,  or  of  this  mineral  with  occasional 
ramifications  of  quartz,  the  whole  usually  including  and  some- 
times investing  fragments  of  the  conglomerate  or  the  pebbles 
of  that  rock  separated. 

As  the  vein  is  continued  still  farther  in  the  direction  of 
and  into  the  red  sandstone,  these  changes  are  still  noticed, 
and  eventually  the  vein  is  found  to  be  composed  either  entirely 
or  mostly  of  calcareous  spar,  and  eventually  so  completely  is 
its  metalliferous  character  lost  that  it  would  not  if  examined 
singly  be  suspected  to  be  any  portion  of  a  metalliferous  vein. 

The  metalliferous  character  of  these  veins  is  most  largely 
developed  almost  directly  at  or  near  to | the  line  of  junction  of 
the  trap  and  sedimentary  rocks,  and  they  rarely  continue, 
without  considerable  change,  for  a  greater  distance  than  one- 


*The  latter  closely  resembling  the  Gossan  of  the  Cornish  miners. 


208  APPENDIX. 

fourth  to  one- third  of  a  mile  on  either  side  of  the  line,  though 
a  few  veins  were  noticed  in  which  in  the  southerly  or  trap 
extension  the  character  of  the  vein  continued  for  a  distance  of 
over  a  mile  nearly  unchanged,  while  in  its  passage  through 
the  conglomerate  for  half  that  distance  its  character  was  also 
perfectly  preserved. 

The  mineral  character  of  the  veins  is  somewhat  varied  in 
those  having  different  degrees  of  thickness,  though  it  is  diffi- 
cult, if  not  impossible,  to  lay  down  any  rule  which  would 
characterize  this  change.  The  different  veins  vary  very 
greatly  in  width,  ranging  from  a  mere  line  to  14  or  15  feet, 
the  greatest  observed  width  of  any  single  vein. 

In  the  descriptions  of  the  veins  given  above  I  only  intend 
to  include  those  which  are  most  perfectly  developed,  for  in 
addition  to  these  there  are  also  many  which  are  imperfectly 
formed  and  short,  and  in  which  many  of  the  above  characters 
are  in  part  or  entirely  wanting.  These  latter  are  usually  of 
little  practical  importance,  and  thus  far  have  been  compara- 
tively little  examined. 

Of  the  metallic  minerals  occurring  in  those  portions  of  the 
true  veins  which  traverse  the  trap  rocks,  together  with  that 
portion  of  the  conglomerate  immediately  resting  upon  or  against 
the  trap,  by  far  the  most  important  consist  of  the  several  ores 
of  copper  with  which  iron  occurs  disseminated  in  the  forms 
before  described,  and  occasionally,  though  very  rarely,  native 
silver  has  been  detected  associated  in  the  same  vein.  After 
as  minute  an  examination  of  the  subject  as 'circumstances  will 
permit  I  am  led  to  the  conclusion  that  the  only  ores  of  the 
metallic  minerals  occurring  in  those  portions  of  the  veins  which 
traverse  the  rocks  last  alluded  to,  which  can  reasonably  be 
hoped  to  be  turned  to  practical  account,  are  those  of  copper. 

In  these  portions  of  the  veins,  the  metal  referred  to,  occurs 
very  frequently  in  the  form  of  native  copper,  with  which  are 
associated  the  red  oxyd,  azure  carbonate,  green  carbonate,  and 
more  rarely  what  may  be  denominated  copper  black,  and  still 
more  rarely,  pyritous  copper.  None  of  these  have  been  noticed 
in  a  crystaline  form. 


FIRST   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  209 

It  must  not  be  imagined  that  these  several  minerals  make 
up  the  whole  or  even  any  very  considerable  portion  of  the 
entire  length  and  breadth  of  the  veins  in  which  they  occur, 
for  they  are  distributed  in  bunches,  strings  and  comparatively 
narrow  subveins,  in  a  manner  precisely  analagous  to  that  in 
which  these  ores  are  usually  distributed  in  similar  rocks  in 
other  portions  of  the  globe.  The  quartz  veinstone,  before  des- 
cribed, has  always  so  much  of  the  green  tinge  communicated 
by  the  carbonate  of  copper  that  it  cannot  fail  to  be  detected  ; 
but  the  presence  of  disseminated  native  copper  in  this  vein- 
stone, would,  at  first,  hardly  be  suspected,  and  it  is  not  until 
a  fresh  fracture  has  been  made  and  the  mineral  closely  exam 
ined  that  the  numerous  dark  points  and  minute  threads  are 
discovered  to  be  copper  in  a  native  state.  Large  portions  of 
this  quartz  veinstone,  (when  the  included  metal  can  scarcely 
be  detected  by  the  naked  eye,)  when  examined  with  a  glass 
are  found  to  contain  very  delicate  threads  of  native  copper 
that  traverse  the  quartz  in  every  possible  direction,  and  so 
completely  is  this  latter  mineral  bound  together  that  it  is 
fractured  with  difficulty,  and  its  toughness  is  very  greatly 
increased. 

The  specific  gravity  of  this  veinstone  is  very  considerably 
above  that  of  ordinary  quartz,  and  usually,  the  difference  is  so 
considerably,  even  in  those  masses  where  the  copper  can 
scarcely  be  detected  by  the  naked  eye,  as  to  be  apparent  to 
even  the  most  careless  observer.  But  in  addition  to  this  finely 
disseminated  condition  of  the  native  copper  in  the  veinstone, 
it  is  also  disseminated  in  a  similar  manner  through  the  rocky 
matter  embraced  by  the  veinstone  and  in  the  amygdaloid  and 
conglomerate  portions  of  the  rocks,  it  sometimes  extends  for  a 
distance  of  from  two  to  three  feet  into  the  rocky  matter  on 
either  side  of  the  veins,  sometimes  completely,  or  in  part,  fill- 
ing the  cells  of  the  amygdaloid  rock. 

The  conditions  above  described  refer  to  the  main  portions 
of  the  veins  only,  while  there  are  other  portions  in  which  the 
copper  appears  to  be  concentrated  in  larger  masses,  constitu- 
ting bunches  and  strings,  and  in  which  places  the  sides  or  walls 
(14) 


210  APPENDIX. 

of  the  veins  are  sometimes  wholly  made  up  of  thin  plates  of 
native  copper.  In  these  portions  of  the  metalliferous  veins 
where  the  metal  appears,  as  it  were,  to  be  concentrated,  it  also 
occurs  much  in  the  form  before  described  except  that  the 
masses  of  metal  vary  from  the  merest  speck  to  that  of  several 
pounds  weight.  In  opening  one  of  these  veins,  at  a  concen- 
trated point,  the  observer,  unless  he  had  previously  examined 
other  portions  of  the  vein  would  be  led  to  erroneous  con- 
clusions as  to  its  richness,  a  source  of  error  which  cannot  be 
too  strongly  guarded  against ;  for  while  the  vein  for  a  short 
distance  may  be  found  to  be  exceedingly  rich  in  mineral,  the 
mineral  in  another  portion  of  the  vein  may  either  wholly  or  in 
part  disappear,  a  condition  which  is  similar  to  that  observed 
in  those  veins  of  copper  that  have  been  extensively  worked 
and  found  to  be  most  productive  on  the  continent  of  Europe 
and  the  island  of  Great  Britain. 

The  excess  of  native  copper  (compared  with  the  other  ores) 
which  occurs  in  these  portions  of  the  veins  is  a  peculiar  feature, 
for  it  may  be  said,  in  truth,  that  other  ores  are  of  rare 
occurrence.  In  those  portions  of  the  veins  traversing  the  trap, 
and  where  other  ores  do  occur,  it  is  usually  under  such  cir- 
cumstances as  to  favor  the  presumption  that  their  origin  is 
chiefly  from  that  which  was  previously  in  a  native  form  ;  for 
the  carbonates  and  oxyds  almost  invariably  appear  either 
investing  the  native  copper  or  intimately  associated  with  it, 
though  they  sometimes  appear  in  distinct  sub- veins.  Pyritous 
copper  is  so  rare  in  connection  with  the  trappean  portions  of 
the  veins  as  scarcely  to  deserve  notice. 

I  have  already  stated  that  native  silver  occasionally, 
though  very  rarely,  occurs  in  the  trappean  portions  of  these 
veins,  intimately  associated  with  the  copper^  but  it  is  in  so 
minute  quantities  as  to  render  it  probable  that  it  will  not  prove 
of  any  practical  importance.  Other  mixed  compounds  of 
this  metal  occur  so  rarely  as  scarcely  to  deserve  notice. 

Leaving  the  trap  rock,  the  character  of  these  veins  as  they 
traverse  the  conglomerate  undergoes  important  changes,  for 
not  only  does  the  veinstone  become  gradually  changed  from 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  211 

quartz  to  calcareous  spar,  but  the  amount  of  native  copper 
diminishes,  and  its  place  is  either  supplied  wholly  or  in  part 
by  ores  of  zinc  and  calcareous  spar,  or  wholly  by  this  latter 
mineral.  There  are,  however,  occasional  exceptions  to  this 
general  rule,  for  occasionally  the  place  of  the  native  copper  in 
the  veins,  in  their  passage  through  the  conglomerate,  is  sup- 
plied by  a  variety  of  complex  compounds  of  the  same  metal, 
which  compounds  are  of  exceeding  interest;  but  this  change 
would  appear  always  to  be  intimately  connected  with  or  to 
bear  some  relation  to  the  dykes  of  trap  which  traverse  the 
conglomerate  rock.  Several  instances  of  this  kind  were 
noticed  upon  the  northerly  side  of  Keweenaw  Point,  either 
directly  upon  or  near  to  the  coast,  as  also  at  several  other 
placas  in  the  interior  westerly  from  Keweenaw  Point.  A  vein 
which  may  without  doubt  be  referred  to  as  one  of  this  char- 
acter (though  in  consequence  of  intervening  bays  and  lakes 
between  it  and  the  ranges  to  the  south,  its  connection  with  the 
main  'range  has  not  been  seen),  will  serve  to  illustrate  the 
character  referred  to. 

This  vein,  which  reaches  the  immediate  coast  of  the  lake 
upon  the  easterly  cape  of  the  bay  known  to  the  voyageurs  as 
the  Grande  Marrais  of  Keweenaw  Point,  terminates,  so  far  as 
examinations  can  be  made,  in  the  coarse  conglomerate  rock. 
The  coast  of  the  lake  for  many  miles  on  either  side  is  made  up 
of  abrupt  cliffs  of  a  similar  rock,  the  rock,  as  usual,  being 
made  up  of  coarse  rolled  pebbles  of  trap,  chiefly  cemented 
with  calcareous  matter,  which  is  usually  associated  more  or 
less  with  the  red  oxyd  of  iron.  Immediately  south  of  the 
coast  a  heavy  dyke  of  trap  traverses  the  conglomerate,  which 
dyke  corresponds  in  position  with  line  of  bearing  and  dip  of 
the  conglomerate  rock. 

The  vein,  which  at  its  termination  upon  the  immediate 
coast  of  the  lake  has  an  extreme  width  of  about  10  feet,  may 
be  traced  in  the  bed  of  the  lake,  in  a  direction  north  5  deg. 
east,  for  a  distance  of  several  rods,  after  which,  in  consequence 
of  the  depth  of  water,  it  is  completely  lost.  This  vein  at  the 
point  where  it  appears  upon  the  coast,  may  be  said  to  be  in 


212  APPENDIX. 

a  concentrated  state,  or  in  a  condition  analagous  to  that  before 
described,  where  the  native  copper  occurs  in  the  condition  of 
bunches  and  strings,  though  the  condition  in  which  the  metal- 
lic minerals  occur  is  essentially  different  from  that  in  the  trap, 
for  instead  of  native  copper  we  have  several  mixed  forms  of 
the  green  and  blue  carbonates  of  copper  and  copper  black, 
more  or  less  intimately  associated  with  calcareous  spar,  and  in 
the  adjoining  rock  and  in  small  ramifying  veins  occasional 
small  specks  and  masses  of  native  copper,  weighing  from  one 
to  three  ounces  occur,  but  these  are  by  no  means  abundant. 
No  quartz  occurs  as  a  veinstone,  and  none  of  the  ores  have 
been  noticed  in  a  crystaline  form. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  these  true  veins  in  travers- 
ing the  conglomerate,  frequently  almost  loose  their  character, 
and  it  becomes  difficult  to  define  their  absolute  width,  or,  in 
other  words,  it  would  appear  as  if  at  the  time  of  the  formation 
of  the  veins  the  conglomerate  had  not  been  perfectly 
cemented,  the  result  of  which  would  be  that  the  mineral  mat- 
ter, which,  under  other  circumstances,  would  constitute 
a  perfect  vein,  would  frequently  appear  in  only  an  imperfect 
one,  or  the  mineral  which  would,  under  other  circumstances, 
make  up  the  vein  itself,  may  have  been  injected  latterly  through 
the  interstices  of  the  rolled  masses  constituting  the  conglome- 
rate, in  which  case  the  mineral  would,  in  fact,  take  the  place  of 
the  ordinary  cement,  thus  simply  investing  the  pebbles  of  the 
conglomerate.  Now,  although  at  the  point  under  consideration 
a  wide  and  remarkably  distinct  vein  is  developed,  the  rock, 
for  many  feet  on  either  side,  has  the  interstices  between  the 
pebbles  filled  wholly  or  in  part  with  various  mixed  and  irregu- 
lar forms  of  the  ores,  accompanied  by  calcareous  matter,  as 
before  stated,  and  with  occasional  specks  and  small  masses  of 
native  copper. 

Those  veins  traversing  the  conglomerate  take  on  a  similar 
character  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  rather  frequently,  but  the 
place  of  the  copper  is  more  usually  supplied  by  the  siliceous 
oxyd,  and  more  rarely  by  the  carbonate  of  zinc,  which  com- 
pounds sometimes  may  be  seen  forming  a  perfect  or  partial 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  213 

cement  to  the  rock  for  considerable  distance  on  either  side  of 
the  main  vein.  These  ores  of  zinc,  like  those  of  copper,  are 
uniformly  amorphous,  and  almost  invariably  more  or  less 
associated  with  some  form  of  carbonate  of  lime,  with  which 
they  may,  under  some  circumstance  unless  closely  examined 
be  confounded. 

Although  these  copper  and  zinc  ores  occasionally  appear 
in  considerable  quantities  in  those  portions  of  the  veins  tra- 
versing the  conglomerate,  they  usually  embrace  or  simply 
encrust  portions  of  the  rocky  matter  ;  or  rather  the  rocky 
matter  and  those  ores  appear  to  be  coarsely  and  mechanically 
mixed.  These  veins  furnish  beautiful  cabinet  specimens  of 
the  blue  and  green  carbonates  of  copper,  and  more  rarely  of 
pyritous  copper,  together  with  the  other  varieties  mentioned. 

Having  already  devoted  a  larger  space  to  the  consideration 
of  these  veins  than  had  been  intended,  I  will  simply  add,  that 
in  pursuing  their  course  northerly  across  the  mixed  rock  and 
the  red  sandrock,  their  mineral  character  is  nearly  or  quite 
lost,  the  veins  as  before  stated,  being  made  up  either  entirely 
of  calcareous  spar  or  of  that  material  containing  |very  meagre 
ores  or  zinc. 

The  district  of  country  to  which  these  veins  have  been 
referred,  thus  far,  only  comprises  the  ranges  of  hills  south  of 
Lake  Superior,  but  veins  of  a  very  similar  character,  and  of 
similar  mineral  contents  also  occur  upon  Isle  Eoyale.  The 
order  and  changes  in  the  character  of  the  veins  upon  Isle 
Eoyale  is  necessarily  reversed,  or  in  other  words,  the  southerly 
point  of  the  vein  corresponds  to  that  of  the  north  point  in  the 
district  south  of  Lake  Superior.  The  mineral  veins  of  Isle 
Eoyale  have  not  been  examined  with  sufficient  care  to  enable 
me  to  determine  with  much  certainty  their  average  width  or 
value.  Those  examined  were  mostly  narrow,  the  widest  not 
exceeding  18  inches,  but  in  these  the  mineral  contents  are 
essentially  the  same  as  in  those  upon  the  south  side  of  the  lake. 
Native  copper  in  very  thin  plates  was  occasionally  noticed 
occupying  irregularly  the  joints  of  the  compact  greenstone  of 
Isle  Eoyale,  but  invariably  in  comparatively  small  quantities. 


214  APPENDIX. 

It  should,  however,  be  noticed  of  Isle  Royale,  that  the  veins, 
so  far  as  examined,  are  less  perfectly  developed  in  their  pass- 
age across  the  conglomerate  and  that  they  very  rarely  contain 
any  traces  of  zinc. 

Upon  the  north  shore  of  the  lake,  no  attention  was  given 
to  the  subject  of  mineral  veins,  but  from  the  character  of  the 
geology  of  that  district  it  may  be  inferred  that  they  will  also 
be  found  in  portions  of  it,  and  that,  where  they  do  occur,  they 
will  be  uniformly  either  directly  upon  or  not  far  from  the 
coast  of  the  lake.  -s!v 

In  addition  to  the  regular  veins  already  described,  irregular 
veins  frequently  occur  traversing  the  whole  or  portions  of  the 
outliers  of  trap,  or  those  knobs  which  appear  to  have  been 
elevated  singly  j  and  although  these  veins  may  without  doubt, 
be  referred  to  the  same  epoch  as  the  regular  veins  before 
described,  they  nevertheless  frequently  differ  considerably  in 
mineral  contents. 

The  limits  of  the  present  report  will  not  permit  a  separate 
description  of  these  several  distinct  trap  knobs.  I  will  there 
fore  confine  my  remarks  to  that  already  referred  to,  as  occur- 
ring upon  the  south  coast  of  Lake  Superior,  immediately  north- 
west from  Riviere  Des  Morts,  and  which  forms  the  promon- 
tory known  as  Presque  Isle. 

In  nearly  all  those  portions  of  this  knob  where  the  trap, 
conglomerate  and  sandstone  are  exposed  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  permit  examination,  each  of  the  rocks  are  seen  to  be  tra- 
versed by  innumerable  irregular  ramiiying  veins,  which  in  the 
sandstones  are  made  up  of  quartzose  and  calcareous  matter; 
but  many  of  which  near  the  junction  of  the  igneous  and  sedi- 
mentary rocks  are  metalliferous,  and  this  metalliferous  char- 
acter is  more  fully  developed  as  the  veins  are  extended  into 
the  trap  rocks. 

The  metalliferous  portion  of  these  veins  rarely  exceed 
three  to  four  inches  in  width,  and  they  ramify  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  the  mineral  uniformly  occupies  situations  similar  to 
bunches  or  strings  at  the  junction  of  the  ramifications.  The 
minerals  contained  in  the  metalliferous  portions  of  the  veins 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  215 

are  sulphuret  and  carbonate  of  lead,  earthy,  green  carbonate 
of  copper,  pyritous  iron,  and  more  rarely  pyritous  copper. 
Occasionally  there  is  a  quartzose,  or  mixed  quartzose  and 
calcareous  veinstone,  but  more  usually  the  several  metallic 
minerals  are  blended  in  a  base  of  rocky  matter.  The  sul- 
phuret of  lead  is  distributed  in  the  form  of  small  cubic  crys- 
tals, while  the  other  metallic  minerals  are  usually  distributed 
either  in  irregular  masses  or  investing  portions  of  the  rocky 
matter.  These  associations  are  referred  to  as  showing  the 
character  which  these  irregular  veins  assume  rather  than 
from  any  supposed  value  which  they  may  possess  for  practical 
purposes. 

In  addition  to  the  minerals  referred  to,  the  trap  of  Presque 
Isle  occasionally  contains  asbestus,  common  serpentine  and 
imperfect  agates,  the  two  former  minerals  usually  occupying 
the  narrow  joints  of  the  rock. 

Before  referring  to  the  economical  considerations  connected 
with  the  veins  which  have  been  described,  I  will  briefly  refer 
to  another  situation  in  which  the  ores  of  copper  have  been 
observed  in  intimate  connection  with  the  trap  range  of  rocks. 

The  southerly  side  or  greenstone  portion  of  the  trap  range 
appears  to  have  been  elevated  in  such  a  manner  as  to  have 
caused  but  little  disturbance  to  the  sandrock  lying  between 
that  and  the  range  of  simply  altered  rocks  lying  still  farther 
to  the  south,  but  near  to  the  junction  of  the  sandrock  and 
greenstone  there  is  usually  a  red  slate  resting  against  the  trap, 
and  which  may  be  said  to  fill  up,  in  a  measure,  the  irregulari- 
ties in  the  ranges  of  hills.  This  slate,  which  is  sometimes 
seen  of  100  to  200  feet  in  thickness,  though  usually  it  appears 
as  a  mere  band,  is  traversed  by  irregular  and  imperfect  veins 
of  what  may  be  denominated  a  ferruginous  steatite,  containing 
placentiform  masses  of  greasy  and  milkish  quartz,  that  some- 
times contain  more  or  less  of  the  ores  of  copper.  The  earthy 
carbonates  of  copper  are  also  sometimes  so  intimately  con- 
nected with  these  veins  of  steatitac  matter  as  at  first  to  be 
scarcely  recognized.  More  rarely,  distinct,  very  thin  veins  of 
green  carbonate  of  copper  occurs,  well  characterized,  in  this 


216  APPENDIX. 

red  slate,  though  these  veins  are  never  of  any  great  length. 
The  red  shale  extends  more  or  less  perfectly  along  the  whole 
length  of  the  trap  range  skirting  that  range  of  hills  upon  the 
south,  but  I  have  not  yet  been  enabled  to  devote  sufficient 
time  to  its  examination  to  enable  me  to  determine  whether 
any  portion  of  these  veins  can  be  regarded  as  of  practical 
importance.  The  examinations  which  have  been  made  would 
lead  me  to  look  unfavorably  upon  the  ^e  veins,  and  I  regard 
them  as  having  an  origin  completely  distinct  from  that  of  the 
veins  which  traverse  the  northerly  escarpment  of  the  trap 
rock. 

Having  thus  considered  all  the  general  circumstances  under 
which  the  several  ores  of  copper,  zinc,  lead,  iron,  manganese 
and  silver  have  been  noticed  in  connection  with  the  trap  rock 
and  the  sedimentary  rocks  immediately  resting  upon  it,  it  be- 
comes important  to  consider  how  far  inferences  may  be  drawn 
from  these  examinations  as  to  their  occurrence  in  such  quan 
titles  as  to  be  of  practical  importance.  I  have  already  stated 
that  so  far  as  regards  the  ores  of  lead,  iron,  manganese  and 
silver,  I  am  led  to  conclude  that  at  none  of  the  points 
examined  do  they  occur  in  veins  or  otherwise  sufficiently  de- 
veloped to  warrant  favorable  conclusions  as  to  their  existence 
in  sufficient  quantities  to  be  made  available,  and  from  all  that 
is  now  known  of  the  country,  I  am  led  to  infer  that  neither  of 
these,  unless  it  be  iron,  will  be  so  found.* 

The  examinations  which  have  thus  far  been  made  of  those 
portions  of  the  veins  containing  ores  of  zinc  have  not  been 
extended  sufficient  to  enable  me  to  determine  with  much 
satisfaction  their  extent  as  a  whole.  At  several  points  in  the 
veins  these  ores  are  sufficiently  abundant  to  admit  of  being 
profitably  worked,  but  I  would  be  unwilling,  from  an  exami- 
nation of  a  few  points  to  attempt  to  determine  the  character  of 
the  whole. 

In  considering  the  practical  value  of  the  copper  ores  of  the 
upper  peninsula  of  Michigan,  where  we  are  as  yet  compelled 


*  These  remarks  are  intended  to  apply  directly  to'the  trap  region.  Beds  of  bog  iron 
ore  occur  east  from  Chocolate  River,  which  probably  may  at  some  future  day  be  pro- 
fitably worked. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  217 

to  judge  from  our  examination,  of  what  may  be  said  to  be  the 
simply  superficial  portions  of  the  veins,  we  can  arrive  at  no 
safe  conclusions,  except  by  comparison  of  the  district  with 
those  districts  similarly  situated,  which  have  been  extensively 
worked  in  other  portions  of  the  globe.  Comparisons  of  this 
character,  to  be  really  useful,  must  necessarily  be  sufficiently 
minute  to  enable  us  to  understand  the  relations  which  the  ores 
in  the  district  compared  bear  to  each  other  in  all  respects, 
which  circumstances  renders  it  necessary  that  a  degree  of 
minute  information  should  be  at  hand,  that  is  not  at  all  times 
to  be  obtained.  As  the  information  on  hand  with  respect  to 
the  copper  and  tin  veins  of  Cornwall,  England,  is  more  minute 
than  that  of  any  mineral  district  known,  I  propose,  in  order  to 
avoid  confusion,  to  confine  my  comparison  to  this  district, 
simply,  premising  that  however  closely  the  two  districts  may 
resemble  each  other  in  character,  it  does  not  follow,  as  an 
axiom,  that  because  the  district  with  which  we  compare  our 
own  has  been  largely  and  profitably  productive,  that  of 
Michigan  must  necessarily  be  so  too,  for  it  will  be  seen,  as  the 
subject  is  pursued,  that  there  are  not  only  several  points  in 
which  it  is  impossible  with  our  present  knowledge  of  that 
of  Michigan,  to  institute  comparisons,  but  there  are  also  some 
points  on  which  there  is  a  considerable  degree  of  discrepancy. 

The  comparison  instituted  in  the  main  is  intended  to  refer 
rather  to  the  character  and  contents  of  the  mineral  veins  of 
the  two  districts  than  to  the  geology,  although  some  general 
reference  becomes  necessary  to  the  geology  of  the  districts  to 
render  the  comparison  perfect.  The  topography  of  the  Corn- 
ish district  bears  a  close  resemblance  to  that  of  Michigan,  both 
districts  being  marked  by  their  irregular  and  broken  outline, 
and  by  the  occurrence  of  more  or  less  frequent,  nearly  insu- 
lated knobs,  rising  to  a  considerable  height  above  the  elevation 
of  the  general  ranges. 

Although  the  older  rock  of  Cornwall,  or  that  from  which 
the  metalliferous  veins  of  the  districts  may  be  said  to  have 
their  origin,  is  more  distinctly  granitic  than  that  of  the  met- 
alliferous region  upon  Lake  Superior,  the  elements  of  which 


218  APPENDIX. 

the  rocks  are  composed  may  be  regarded  as  essentially  bearing 
a  very  close  resemblance ;  a  resemblance  which,  it  is  con- 
ceived, would  have  been  still  more  perfect  had  the  granitic 
rocks  of  Cornwall  been  subjected  to  the  action  of  secondary 
causes  similar  to  those  of  the  region  under  consideration.  The 
rocks  resting  upon  or  against  the  granitic  rocks  of  Cornwall, 
consist  of  clay  slates,  hornblende  rocks,  etc.,  which  bear  little 
real  analogy  to  the  rocks  resting  directly  upon  the  trap  of  Lake 
Superior,  but  it  is  conceived  that  the  composition  of  these 
upper  rocks  has  little  bearing  upon  the  origin  of  the  metal- 
liferous veins,  and  maj1  be  regarded  as  in  a  measure  unimpor- 
tant ;  and  however  much  these  rocks  may  differ  they  are  tra- 
versed alike  by  the  metalliferous  veins  o/  the  lower  rocks  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  close  resemblance  cannot  be  mistaken. 
Itis  a  matter  of  history  that  the  ores  of  tin  have  been  more 
or  less  extensively  raised  in  the  mineral  district  of  Cornwall, 
from  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  island  of  Great  Baitain,  but 
the  working  of  the  veins  of  copper  at  an  early  day  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  carried  oa  to  any  very  considerable  extent. 
The  great  importance  to  which  the  produce  of  copper  from  the 
Cornish  veins,  (in  a  district  which  compared  with  the  mineral 
district  of  our  own  State  is  of  very  small  dimensions)  has 
arisen,  will  be  shown  from  the  accompanying  table,  which  I 
have  reduced  from  the  official  returns  included  in  the  several 
years,  and  which  table,  it  will  be  seen,  shows  for  a  series  of 
years  the  average  annual  amount  of  copper  produced  from  the 
ore,  the  average  amount  for  which  it  sold,  together  with  the 
amount  per  cent,  of  copper  contained  in  the  ore,  and  the  average 
value  of  the  copper  per  pound  at  the  smelting  house.  This 
table,  which  has  been  drawn  with  great  care  from  data  that 
can  scarcely  lead  to  incorrect  results,  will  not  only  serve  to 
show  the  large  aggregate  amount  of  the  metal  produced,  but 
it  also  shows  from  the  low  average  per  cent,  of  metal  contained 
in  the  ores,  if  we  had  no  further  knowledge  upon  the  subject, 
that  much  capital  must  be  required  for,  and  a  large  amount  of 
labor  applied  to  the  raising  and  smelting  of  these  ores,  a 
circumstance  which  should  be  carefully  borne  in  mind  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  mineral  district  of  Michigan. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN. 


219 


Table  showing  the  average  annual  produce  of  the  copper  mines  of 
the  county  of  Cornwall,  England,  from  1771  to  1822. 


YEARS. 

Average 
No.  of  tons 
of  ore 
per  year. 

Av.  No. 
tons  cop- 
per pro- 
due'  d  per 
year. 

Average 
amount  per 
year  for  which 
sold. 

Av.  per 
cent  cop- 
per pro- 
duced 
from  ore. 

Av.  val. 
of  the 
copper 
per 
pound. 

c.  m. 

1771  to  1775—5  years, 

28,749 

3,449 

$    846,283 

12 

10  9 

1776  to  1780—5       " 

27,580 

3,309 

826,609 

12 

11  1 

1781  to  1786—6       « 

34,354 

4,122 

962,380 

12 

10  4 

1796  to  1802—  7       " 

51,483 

5,195 

2,125,046 

10 

18  2 

1803  to  1807—5       " 

70,923 

6,160 

3,174,725 

8 

23 

1808  to  1812—  5       " 

70,434 

6,498 

2,886,835 

9 

12  9 

1813  to  1817—5       " 

82,610 

7,272 

2,878,723 

8  8 

17  6 

1818  to  1822—5       " 

94,391 

7,757 

3,111,811 

8  2 

17  9 

The  general  resemblance  in  the  mineral  contents  of  the  cop- 
per veins  of  Cornwall  and  those  of  Michigan  is  for  the  most 
part  very  great,  though  in  some  respects  there  is  a  consider- 
able discrepancy.  It  should,  however,  be  remarked  that  some 
difficulty  exists  in  comparing  the  mineral  veins  of  Cornwall, 
where  several  of  them  have  been  worked  to  depths  varying 
from  1,000  to  1,500  feet,  with  those  of  Michigan,  where  the 
examinations  are  nearly  superficial. 

In  making  these  deep  excavations,  not  only  in  the  county 
of  Cornwall,  but  also  in  the  copper  districts  of  Bohemia, 
Hungary,  Silesia,  Transylvania,  Saxony,  etc.  (some  of  the 
veins  in  the  latter  district  having  been  explored  to  a  depth 
very  considerably  greater  than  those  of  Cornwall),  an  im- 
mense mass  of  facts  has  been  accumulated,  with  respect  to  the 
general  formation  and  mineral  character  of  veins,  or  lodes  of 
copper,  which  facts  have  led  to  an  understanding  of  many 
of  the  contingencies  connected  with  its  associations  so 
universal  that  when  applied  to  this  mineral  they  may  be 
regarded  as  general  laws  that  may  fairly  be  inferred  to  govern 
with  more  or  less  certainty  all  those  lodes  or  veins  which  have 
similar  geological  relations.  Though  a  general  consideration 
of  those  relations  of  the  veins  of  other  countries  may  perhaps 


220  APPENDIX. 

be  regarded  as  somewhat  foreign  to  the  present  report,  I  deem 
it  more  advisable  to  refer  to  these  general  laws  in  such  a  man  - 
ner  as  to  leave  the  reader  to  judge  by  comparison  the  condi- 
tion in  which  the  ores  of  Michigan  may  be  fairly  inferred  to 
occur,  rather  than  to  draw  conclusions  directly,  and  in  so 
doing  it  will  also  become  necessary  to  refer  to  some  of  the 
characters  of  mineral  veins  or  lodes  in  general. 

Veins  are  usually  divided  into  two  general  orders,  viz: 
i  i  cotemporaneous  veins,  or  those  which  are  formed  at  the  same 
time  as  the  containing  rock,  and  true  veins,  whose  formation  is 
supposed  to  be  subsequent  to  that  of  the  rocks  which  are  con- 
tiguous to  them."  A  true  vein  may  be  denned  to  be  "the 
mineral  contents  of  a  vertical  or  inclined  fissure,  nearly 
straight,  and  of  indefinite  length  and  depth."*  The  contents 
of  a  true  vein,  as  a  general  rule,  differ  widely  from  the  char- 
acter of  the  rocks  which  it  intersects,  though  this  does  not 
invariably  hold  good,  and  the  vein  also,  as  a  general  rule,  has 
well  defined  walls 

The  contents  of  contemporaneous  veins  bear  a  much  closer 
resemblance  to  the  rocks  which  embrace  them,  and  as  a  gen- 
eral rule,  they  a  shorter,  more  crooked,  and  less  perfectly 
defined  than  true  veins. 

The  metalliferous  veins  being  contained  under  the  head  of 
true  veins,  it  is  to  these  that  the  whole  of  my  remarks  will  be 
directed. 

Metallic  veins  are  the  repositories  of  most  of  the  metals 
excepting  iron,  manganese  and  chrome,  which  occur  more 
frequently  and  abundantly  in  beds  than  in  veins.  The  thick- 
ness of  metallic  veins  varies  from  a  few  inches  to  many  feet, 
and  the  same  vein  also  varies  in  thickness  in  different  parts  of 
its  course,  sometimes  contracting  to  a  narrow  string  of  ore  and 
then  expanding  again  to  a  width  of  many  feet  The  deposits 
of  metal  in  the  veins  are  as  irregular  as  the  widths  of  them, 
and  so  much  so  as  to  render  the  profits  of  mining  proverbially 
uncertain.  Ore  is  generally  found  to  occupy  certain  portions 
of  the  veins  only,  differing  constantly  in  extent,  whether  the 


*Carne,  on  the  mineral  veins  of  Cornwall. 


FIEST   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY    OF   MICHIGAN.  221 

length  or  depth  on  the  course  of  the  vein  be  considered,  or  the 
portion  of  its  width  which  is  filled  up  by  it.  No  veins  occur 
which  are  regularly  impregnated  with  metal  to  any  great 
extent,  and  when  ore  is  found,  it  is  in  what  the  miners  aptly 
term  bunches  or  shoots,  or  in  interspersed  grains  and  strings, 
which  are  more  or  less  connected  with  or  embraced  in  vein- 
stone, that,  according  to  the  rock  which  the  veins  intersect 
will  be  fluor  spar,  calcareous  spar,  quartz,  etc.  The  unpro- 
ductive parts  of  veins,  even  in  the  most  profitable  mines,  gen- 
erally far  exceed  in  extent  the  productive  parts,  but  that  mine 
is  considered  to  be  rich  which  has  either  frequent  or  extensive 
shoots  of  ore,  and  the  great  art  of  the  miner  consists  in  tracing 
and  working  the  valuable  accumulations  of  the  metals,  with 
as  little  waste  of  labor  and  expense  on  the  poorer  portions  of 
the  veins  as  possible.  "In  the  mines  of  Cornwall  the  ores  of 
copper  and  tin  commonly  occur  in  detached  masses  which  are 
called  bunches  of  ore,  and  the  other  parts  of  the  vein  being 
unproductive  are  called  deads." 

The  depth  to  which  metallic  veins  descend  is  unknown,  for 
we  believe  no  instance  has  occurred  of  a  considerable  vein  being 
worked  out  in  depth,  though  it  may  sink  too  deep  to  render  the 
operation  of  the  minor  profitable,  or  it  may  branch  off  in  a 
number  of  strings  which  are  too  much  intermixed  with  the 
rock  to  be  worked  to  advantage.*  Some  veins  appear  to  grow 
wider  while  others  contract  as  they  decend. 

The  superficial  part  of  a  vein  generally  contains  the  ore 
in  a  decomposing  state,  and  it  frequently  happens  that  the 
ores  in  the  upper  and  lower  parts  of  the  vein  are  different ; 
thus,  ' i  in  Cornwall,  blende  or  sulphuret  of  zinc  often  occupies 
the  uppermost  part  of  the  vein  to  which  succeeds  tinstone,  and 
at  a  greater  depth  copper  pyrites."  When  a  metallic  vein  in 
its  descent  passes  through  different  kinds  of  rock,  it  is  fre- 
quently observed  that  the  products  of  the  vein  vary  in  each 
bed,  and  when  it  passes  through  regularly  stratified  beds  of 
the  same  rock  there  are  particular  strata  in  which  the  vein  is 
always  found  most  productive.  This  change  in  the  productive- 

*Koenig. 


222  APPENDIX. 

ness  of  mineral  veins  is  more  particularly  noticed  at  or  near  to 
the  transition  from  unst ratified  to  stratified  rocks  ;  thus  granite, 
syenite  and  those  rocks  which  [have  a  graniti-form  structure 
are  frequently  noticed  to  contain  metals  at  or  near  their  junc- 
tion with  stratified  formations.  On  the  other  hand,  the  veins 
which  traverse  stratified  rocks  are,  as  a  general  law,  more 
metalliferous  near  such  junctions  than  in  other  portions.* 

Where  a  rock  is  crossed  and  penetrated  by  a  great  num- 
ber of  small  veins  in  every  direction,  the  whole  mass  is  some- 
times worked  as  an  ore  and  is  called  by  the  Germans  a  "  stock - 
worke."  Where  the  ore  is  disseminated  in  particles  through 
the  rock,  such  rocks  are  also  worked  for  the  ore  when  it  exists 
in  sufficient  quantity. 

As  a  general  rule,  those  metals  which  are  oxydable  at  ordi- 
nary temperatures,  or  which  readily  combine  with  sulphur 
rarely  occur  in  a  metallic  state,  but  are  usually  found  in  com 
bination  either  with  sulphur,  oxygen  or  acids.  The  chief  ore 
of  copper  raised  from  the  mines  of  Cornwall,  is  the  yellow 
sulphuret,  though  the  blue  and  green  carbonates  and  arseniate 
are  more  or  less  distributed  ;  native  copper  and  the  oxyds  are 
also,  though  more  rarely,  found. 

By  a  comparison  of  what  has  been  said  upon  the  character 
and  mineral  contents  of  metallic  veins  in  general,  I  trust  a  just 
view  of  the  real  condition  in  which  the"  ores  of  copper  are  inva- 
riable found,  will  have  been  conveyed,  and  that,  by  the  aid  of 
this  we  will  be  enabled  to  examine,  without  undue  expecta- 
tions, those  mineral  veins  which  occur  within  the  limits  of  our 
own  state.  In  the  main,  the  resemblance  between  the  charac- 
ter and  contents  of  the  copper  veins  of  Cornwall  and  Michi- 
gan, so  far  as  can  be  determined,  is  close  ;  the  veinstones  (with 
the  exception  of  fluor,  which  I  have  never  observed  in  the 
latter, )  are  essentially  the  same  ;  but  in  instituting  this  com- 
parison, it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  metallic  veins  of 
Cornwall  have  been  in  progress  of  exploration  for  centuries, 
and  that  shafts  and  galleries  have  been  carried  to  great  depths, 
while  of  those  of  Michigan,  simply  superficial  examinations 


*Lyell.    Necker. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  223 

have  as  yet  been  made,  and  these  in  a  wilderness  country, 
under  circumstances  of  the  utmost  embarrassment  and  attend- 
ed with  the  most  excessive  labor,  privation  and  suffering. 

In  respect  to  the  character  of  the  ores  which  occur  in  the 
two  districts,  there  are  important  differences,  for  while  pyri- 
tous  copper  is  the  most  important  workable  ore  not  only  in 
the  Cornish  mines,  but  also  in  those  of  other  portions  of  our 
globe,  it  is  comparatively  a  rare  occurrence  in  the  mineral 
district  of  Upper  Michigan  ;  for,  as  I  have  already  mentioned, 
the  mineral  of  the  trappean  portions  of  the  veins  in  the  latter 
district  is  essentially  made  up  of  strings,  specks  and  bunches 
of  native  copper,  with  which  more  or  less  of  the  oxyds  and 
carbonates  are  associated  ;  while  those  portions  of  the  veins 
traversing  the  conglomerate  are  characterized  by  the  occur- 
rence of  the  oxyds  and  carbonates,  with  occasional  metallic 
and  pyritous  copper,  or  the  places  of  all  these  are  supplied  by 
ores  of  zinc,  associated  with  more  or  less  calcareous  matter. 
In  the  thin  mineral  veins  of  Presque  Isle,  pyritous  copper  is 
more  abundant,  where  it  is  associated  with  sulphuret  of  lead, 
as  before  mentioned. 

The  occurrence  of  this  native  copper  in  the  veins,  and  the 
manner  in  which  it  is  associated  with  the  veinstones,  in  all 
respects  corresponds  with  the  ordinary  association  of  the  other 
forms  of  ores  in  those  veins  that  have  been  extensively  worked 
in  other  portions  of  the  globe  ;  but  I  confess  that  the  prepon- 
derance of  native  to  the  other  forms  of  copper  was  regarded 
as  an  unfavorable  indication,  at  least  until  this  had  been  found 
to  be  more  or  less  universal  with  respect  to  all  the  veins.  It 
should,  however,  be  remarked,  that  in  those  portions  of  the 
veins  where  the  quartz  of  the  vein  and  the  accompaning  rock 
are  very  compact,  the  native  form  is  much  more  common  than 
in  those  portions  where  the  veinstone  and  accompaning  rock 
are  more  or  less  cellular  and  soft. 

The  worked  copper  veins  of  Cornwall  are  stated  by  Mr. 
Carne  to  average  from  three  to  four  feet  in  width,  and  to  have 
a  length  as  yet  undetermined.  But  few  have  been  traced  for 


224  APPENDIX. 

a  greater  distance  than  one  to  one  and  a  half  miles,  and  but 
one  has  been  traced  for  a  distance  of  three  miles. 

The  veins  which  I  have  examined  in  the  mineral  district  of 
Michigan,  exceed  the  average  of  those  last  mentioned,  but  the 
imperfect  examinations  which  have  been  made  render  it  diffi- 
cult to  determine  this  with  certainty.  I  have  traced  no  one 
vein  for  a  further  distance  than  one  mile,  and  usually  for  dis- 
tances considerably  less.  It  was  not,  however,  supposed  that 
these  veins  terminated  at  the  points  where  they  were  left,  but 
the  father  examinations  were  abandoned  at  these  points  in 
consequence  of  physical  difficulties  connected  with  the  present 
condition  of  the  country. 

The  native  copper  is  frequently  free  from  all  foreign  matter 
and  is  as  completely  malleable  as  the  most  perfectly  refined  cop- 
per, but  it  more  usually  contains  disseminated  particles  of 
earthy  minerals,  chiefly  quartz.  I  have  not  been  able  to 
detect  the  alloy  of  any  other  metal  in  a  single  instance. 

The  fatigues  and  exposures  of  the  past  season  have  so  far 
impaired  my  health  that  as  yet  I  have  been  unable  to  analyze 
as  carefully  as  could  have  been  wished  the  several  ores  fur- 
nished by  the  mineral  veins  of  the  upper  peninsula,  but 
sufficient  has  been  done  to  show  satisfactorily  that  the  copper 
ores  are  not  only  of  superior  quality,  but  also  that  their 
associations  are  such  as  to  render  them  easily  reduced.  Of 
those  which  have  been  examined,  embracing  nearly  the  whole 
(and  not  including  the  native  copper),  the  per  cent,  of  pure 
metal  ranges  from  9.5  to  51.72,  and  the  average  may  be  stated 
at  21.10.  Associated  with  some  of  these  ores  I  have  detected 
a  metal,  the  character  of  which  remains  as  yet  undetermined. 

Were  the  analysis  of  the  several  ores  of  copper  sufficiently 
perfected  I  should  deem  it  unnecessary  to  lay  them  before  you 
at  this  time,  for  with  what  is  now  known  of  the  district,  it  is 
conceived  the  result  would  lead  to  erroneous  rather  than  to 
correct  conclusions.  The  analysis  of  separate  masses  of  ore, 
no  matter  how  much  care  may  be  taken  to  select  the  poor  as 
well  as  the  richer  ores  for  the  examinations,  will  usually  be 
far  from  giving  the  average  per  cent,  of  what  would  be  the 


FIRST, GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  225 

product  when  reduced  to  practice.  I  have,  in  order  to  arrive 
at  safe  conclusions  not  only  analyzed  but  also  assayed  many  of 
them,  but  when  we  come  to  consider  what  constitutes  the  true 
value  of  a  vein  of  copper  ore  we  will  perceive  why  it  is 
unsafe  to  judge  of  the  whole  by  the  analysis  of  small  portions. 

By  reference  to  the  previous  statistical  table  of  the  product 
of  the  copper  mines  of  Cornwall  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
average  produce  of  the  ores  since  1771  has  never  exceeded  12 
per  cent,  of  the  metal,  and  that  from  1818  to  1822  it  was  only 
8.2.  This  shows  the  aggregate,  and  it  is  well  known  that 
while  many  of  the  productive  veins  are  considerably  below 
this,  the  largest  average  per  cent,  of  any  single  vein  in  that 
district,  it  is  believed,  has  never  been  over  20  per  cent.,  and 
it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  average  is  taken  after  the 
ores  have  been  carefully  freed  from  all  the  rocky  and  other 
impurities  which  can  be  separated  by  breaking  and  picking. 

The  value  of  a  vein  may  be  said  to  depend  upon  the  abun- 
dance of  the  ore,  and  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  raised  and 
smelted,  rather  than  upon  its  purity  or  richness.  Upon  this 
point,  with  respect  to  our  own  mineral  region,  public  opinion 
would  perhaps  be  more  in  error  than  upon  any  other,  and 
most  certainly  we  could  hardly  look  for  a  mineral  district 
where  the  character  of  the  ores  was  more  liable  to  dissemi- 
nate and  keep  alive  such  errors.  The  occurrence  of  masses  of 
native  metal  either  transported  or  in  place  is  liable  to  excite, 
with  those  who  have  not  reflected  upon  the  subject,  expecta- 
tions which  can  never  be  realized,  for  while  in  truth  the 
former  show  nothing  but  their  own  bare  existence,  the  latter 
may  be,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  simply  imbedded  masses 
perfectly  separated  from  all  other  minerals,  or  they  may  be 
associated  in  a  vein  where  every  comparison  would  lead  to 
unfavorable  conclusions  as  to  the  existence  of  copper  in  any 
considerable  quantities.  I  have  frequently  noticed  very  con- 
siderable masses  of  native  copper  occupying  the  joints  of  com- 
pact greenstone,  under  such  circumstances  as  I  conceive  might 
readily  excite  in  many  minds  high  expectations,  but  a  little 
reflection  would  satisfy  the  most  careless  observer  of  the  use- 

(15) 


226  APPENDIX. 

lessness  of  exploring  these  joints  under  the  expectation  or 
hope  of  finding  them  a  valuable  repository  of  the  metal. 
Again,  not  only  native  but  also  the  other  ores  of  copper  occur 
in  veins,  either  so  narrow  as  to  render  it  useless  to  pursue 
them,  or  so  associated  as  to  render  it  probable  that  explora- 
tion would  not  be  attended  with  success. 

While  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  the  mineral  district  of  our 
State  will  prove  a  source  of  eventual  and  steadily  increasing 
wealth  to  our  people,  I  cannot  fail  to  have  before  me  the  fear 
that  it  may  prove  the  ruin  of  hundreds  of  adventurers  who 
will  visit  it  with  expectations  never  to  be  realized.  The  true 
resources  have  as  yet  been  but  little  examined  or  developed, 
and  even  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  we  cannot 
expect  to  see  this  done  but  by  the  most  judicious  and 
economical  expenditure  of  capital  at  those  points  where  the 
prospects  of  success  are  most  favorable.  It  has  been  said  of 
the  Cornish  district,  in  respect  to  the  supposed  large  aggre- 
gate profits,  that  "  a  fair  estimate  of  the  expenditure  and  the 
return  from  all  the  mines  that  have  been  working  for  the  last 
twenty  or  thirty  years,  if  the  necessary  documents  could  be 
obtained  from  those  who  are  interested  in  withholding  them, 
would  dispel  the  delusion  which  prevails  on  this  subject,  as 
well  as  check  the  ruinous  spirit  of  gambling  adventure  which 
has  been  productive  of  so  much  misery."*  And  if  these 
remarks  will  apply  to  a  comparatively  small  district,  which  has 
been  explored  and  extensively  worked  for  centuries,  with  how 
much  more  force  must  they  apply  to  the  mineral  district  of  our 
own  state.  I  would  by  no  means  desire  to  throw  obstacles  in 
the  way  of  those  who  might  wish  to  engage  in  the  business  of 
mining  this  ore,  at  such  time  as  our  government  may  see  fit  to 
permit  it,  but  I  would  simply  caution  those  persons  who  would 
engage  in  this  business  in  the  hope  of  accumulating  wealth 
suddenly  and  without  patient  industry  and  capital,  to  look 
closely  before  the  step  is  taken,  which  will  most  certainly  end 
in  disappointment  and  ruin. 

'Hawkins  on  the  tin  of  Cornwall. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  227 

The  extreme  length  of  what  I  have  denominated  the  mineral 
district,  (within  the  limits  of  Michigan)  may  be  estimated  at 
a  fraction  over  135  miles,  and  it  has  a  width  varying  from  one 
to  six  miles  ;  but  it  must  not  be  imagined  that  mineral  veins 
occur  equally  through  all  portions  of  it,  for  sometimes,  for 
many  miles  together  none  have  been  noticed,  and  the  situation 
of  the  country  is  such  as  to  render  it  probable  they  never  will 
be.  The  range  and  course  of  the  mineral  district  has  been  so 
far  defined  as  to  render  it  unnecessary  to  say  more  upon  this 
subject,  to  enable  such  persons  as  may  wish  to  examine,  to 
pass  directly  along  its  complete  length. 

I  have  thus  far  omitted  to  allude  particularly  to  the  large 
mass  of  native  copper  which  has  been  so  long  known  to  exist 
in  the  bed  of  Ontonagon  Eiver,  less  perhaps  this  isolated  mass 
might  be  confounded  with  the  products  of  the  veins  of  the 
mineral  district.  That  this  mass  has  once  occupied  a  place  in 
some  of  these  veins  is  quite  certain,  but  it  is  now  perfectly 
separated  from  its  original  connection,  and  appears  simply  as  a 
loose  transported  bowlder. 

The  attention  of  the  earliest  travelers  was  called  to  this 
mass  of  metallic  copper  by  the  natives  of  the  country,  and  it 
has  been  repeatedly  described  by  those  who  have  visited  it. 
The  mass  now  lies  in  the  bed  of  the  westerly  fork  of  the 
Ontonagon  Eiver,  at  a  distance  which  may  be  estimated  at  26 
miles  by  the  stream  from  its  mouth.  The  rugged  character  of 
the  country  is  such  that  it  is  but  rarely  visited,  in  proof  of 
which  I  may  state  that  upon  my  visit  to  it  during  the  last 
year  I  found  broken  chisels  where  I  had  left  them  on  a  pre- 
vious visit  nine  years  before,  and  even  a  mass  of  the  copper 
which  at  that  time  had  been  partially  detached,  but  which  for 
the  want  of  sufficient  implements  I  was  compelled  to  abandon, 
was  found,  after  that  interval,  in  precisely  the  same  situation 
in  which  it  had  been  left. 

The  copper  in  this  bowlder  is  associated  with  rocky  matter, 
which,  in  all  respects,  resembles  that  associated  with  that 
metal  in  some  portions  of  the  veins  before  described,  the  rocky 
matter  being  bound  together  by  innumerable  strings  of  metal ; 


228  APPENDIX. 

but  a  very  considerable  proportion  of  the  whole  is  copper  in  a 
state  of  purity.  The  weight  of  copper  is  estimated  at  from  3 
to  4  tons. 

While  the  mass  of  native  copper  upon  Ontonagon  Eiver 
cannot  fail  to  excite  much  interest,  from  its  great  size  and 
purity,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  it  is  a  perfectly  isolated 
mass,  having  no  connection  whatever  with  any  other,  nor  does 
the  character  of  the  country  lead  to  the  inference  that  veins  of 
the  metal  occur  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  though,  as  before 
stated,  the  mineral  district  crosses  the  country  at  a  distance  of 
but  a  few  miles. 

The  occurrence  of  carnelian,  chalcedony,  agate  and  ame- 
thystine quartz,  in  the  amygdaloidal  portion  of  the  trap,  has 
already  been  noticed,  and  these  minerals  are  considerably 
abundant.  They  frequently  possess  very  great  beauty  and 
perfection,  and  when  ground  and  polished  they  may  be  used 
for  all  the  purposes  to  which  those  minerals  are  usually 
applied. 

Minerals  of  the  Upper  or  Gray  Sandstone. 

Though  the  upper  sandrock  is  largely  exposed  along  that 
portion  of  the  lake  coast  known  as  the  Pictured  Eocks,  rising 
to  a  very  considerable  height  in  precipitous  cliffs,  there  have, 
nevertheless,  been  no  minerals  noticed  in  connection  with  it 
except  iron  pyrites.  Along  a  portion  of  the  distance,  how- 
ever, the  rock  of  the  cliff  is  frequently  colored  by  broad, 
vertical  bands,  having  a  variety  of  tints  (which  have  given 
name  to  this  portion  of  the  coast),  and  these  bands  have  been 
by  some  travelers  supposed  to  indicate  the  existence  of 
important  minerals  in  the  rock;  but  the  coloring  matter  of 
these  bands  is  merely  superficial.  It  chiefly  consists  of  the 
oxyd  and  carbonate  of  iron,  with  occasional  faint  traces  of 
carbonate  of  copper,  both  having  been  deposited  from  waters 
while  trickling  down  the  cliffs,  the  same  having  previously 
percolated  the  rock. 

No  mineral  veins  have  been  noticed  in  connection  with 
this  rock. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  229 

Progress  and  Condition  of  the  Survey,  etc. 

Notwithstanding  the  very  many  physical  difficulties  by 
which  the  geological  survey  of  the  upper  peninsula  of  our  state 
is  surrounded,  we  have,  nevertheless,  been  enabled  to  accom- 
plish a  much  larger  amount  of  the  work  than  reasonably  could 
have  been  hoped  ;  but  there  still  remains  much  to  be  done 
before  its  geology  and  mineralogy  can  be  fairly  understood. 
Comparatively  little  has  heretofore  been  known  of  the  range 
and  extent  of  the  several  rock  formations,  and,  while  the  labor 
of  the  past  season  has  shown  the  most  interesting  of  these  to 
have  a  much  larger  area  than  we  had  previously  been  led  to 
infer,  it  has  also  shown  that  the  amount  of  work  required  to 
enable  us  fairly  to  understand  the  geology  and  mineralogy  of 
that  interesting  region  was  considerably  more  than  we  had 
reason  to  look  for. 

The  reports  of  the  several  assistants  will  exhibit  to  you  the 
progress  that  has  been  made  during  the  past  season  in  the 
surveys  of  the  southern  peninsula.  Messrs.  B.  Hubbard  and 
C.  C.  Douglass  were  engaged  with  me  during  the  early  part  01 
the  season  in  the  upper  peninsula  ;  after  which,  they  returned 
to  carry  forward  the  geological  and  topographical  surveys  of 
the  lower  peninsula.  I  was  also  accompanied,  during  a  small 
portion  of  the  season,  by  Mr.  Frederick  Hubbard,  who  acted 
as  special  assistant,  and  who  has  embodied  a  small  part  of  his 
numerous  observations  in  the  form  of  a  report,  which  is  hereto 
appended. 

The  survey  of  the  lower  peninsula  is  mainly  completed,  but 
there  are  some  few  spaces,  both  in  the  geological  and  topo- 
graphical portions  of  the  work,  which  require  to  be  filled  up 
before  the  results  can  be  fully  laid  before  the  public. 

The  drafting  of  the  topographical  portion  of  the  survey  has 
advanced  steadily  towards  completion,  and  the  several  county 
maps  are  in  progress  of  publication  in  conformity  to  your 
instructions. 

While  we  had  hoped  to  have  been  able  to  bring  the  survey 
to  a  close  within  the  time  originally  contemplated,  from  the 


230  APPENDIX. 

above  statement  of  the  progress  and  condition  of  the  work,  it 
will  be  seen,  that  some  further  time  will  be  necessary  for  its 
final  completion  ;  but  while  this  time  will  be  essential  to  reach 
the  object  sought  to  be  attained  by  our  state,  no  further 
appropriation  will  be  necessary  for  that  purpose. 

DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON, 

State  Geologist. 


Appended  to  the  report  of  the  State  Geologist  of  1841  is 
the  following: 

No.  1 — Eeport  of  Frederick  Hubbard,  special  assistant, 
Utica,  K  Y.,  November  20,  1840.  This  report  submits  the 
results  of  a  portion  of  the  observations  for  the  variation 
of  compass,  latitudes,  surveys  of  harbors,  etc.,  made  by 
direction  of  the  State  Geologist  during  the  recent  expedition 
of  the  geological  corps  to  the  upper  peninsula. 

It  sets  forth  that  the  subject  of  latitudes  was  made  a  mat- 
ter of  particular  attention,  no  regular  survey  ever  having 
been  made  by  the  general  government  of  that  part  of  the  lake 
lying  within  the  boundary  of  our  State.  A  table  of  latitudes 
is  given  of  principal  points,  also  a  table  of  magnetic  varia- 
tions, the  angles  being  measured  with  a  theodolite  containing  a 
needle  of  great  delicacy.  By  platting  these  variations  it 
appears  that  there  is  a  constant  increase  in  the  amount  of 
deflection  in  passing  westward,  and  at  the  same  time  that  the 
increment  is  not  in  proportion  to  the  westing,  but  is  in  a 
decreasing  ratio. 

The  line  of  no  variation  was  found  to  pass  through  Ste. 
Marie  River,  crossing  Drummond  Island  near  its  western,  and 
St.  Joseph  through  its  central  or  eastern  part. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  231 

Mr.  F.  Hubbard  thus  alludes  to  some  interesting  irregu- 
larities in  the  deviations: 

' '  By  marking  upon  the  map  the  points  1,  2  and  3,  etc. , 
degrees  of  variation,  and  drawing  through  them  lines  parallel 
to  the  lines  of  no  variation, it  will  be  perceived  that  there  are  in 
a  few  cases  important  deviations  from  the  general  regularity  in 
which  the  deflections  are  found  to  increase.  These  are  by  far 
too  great  to  be  attributed  to  errors  in  observation,  to  diurnal 
variation,  or  to  the  effect  of  atmospheric  disturbing  causes. 
It  appears  highly  probable  that  something  may  be  due  to  the 
outline  of  coast,  to  the  unequal  distribution  of  land  and 
water,  and  to  the  influence  of  an  open  extent  of  sea  on  the 
one  hand  and  of  a  mountain  range  upon  the  other.  In  all 
these  cases  there  is  a  deflection  of  the  needle  towards  the  open 
lake,  tending  when  the  land  lies  to  the  west  of  the  place  of 
observation  to  increase  the  amount  of  easterly  variations,  and 
the  contrary.  Thus  we  find  about  the  Eiviere  des  Morts, 
where  the  trend  of  the  shore  is  northerly,  at  the  several  points 
to  the  east  of  the  Keweenaw  Peninsula,  and  at  the  village  of 
La  Pointe,  lying  to  the  eastward  of  a  high  range  of  hills  upon 
the  main  land,  a  too  great  deflection  towards  the  east,  as  if 
the  needle  was  actually  affected  by  some  repulsive  influence 
existing  in  the  land  or  a  contrary  principle  in  the  waters.77 

Accompanying  this  report  are  maps  of  Grand  Marais  and 
Copper  Harbor  as  fixed  by  triangulations,  with  soundings. 

No.  2 — Eeport  of  C.  C.  Douglass,  assistant  geologist,  Janu- 
ary 4th,  1841,  states  that  the  duties  performed  under  the 
immediate  direction  of  the  State  Geologist  in  the  region  of 
Lake  Superior  by  the  geological  assistants  necessarily  delayed 
their  work  in  the  southern  peninsula.  The  report  is 
confined  to  remarks  on  the  general  character  and  geology 
of  the  northern  portion  of  the  lower  peninsula. 

This  portion  of  the  State,  then  new  to  settlement,  was 
generally  thought  to  be  too  far  north,  and  too  flat  and  wet  to 


232  APPENDIX. 

admit  of  successful  agriculture.  Mr.  Douglass  shows  that 
this  conclusion  is  wholly  unwarranted  as  regards  the  greater 
part  of  the  country,  that  the  land  continues  to  rise  as  we  pro 
ceed  into  the  interior,  until  it  attains  an  elevation  equal  to  if 
not  exceeding  any  other  part  of  the  peninsula.  That  the 
upland  is  generally  rolling,  with  a  soil  of  sand  and  clay 
loams;  is  clad  with  evergreen  timber  interspersed  with  exten- 
sive tracts  of  beech  and  maple;  that  this  character  of  country 
extends  into  the  interior  for  many  miles  in  the  vicinity  of 
Traverse  Bay,  bordering  on  a  series  of  beautiful  lakes  varying 
in  length  from  two  to  eighteen  miles,  and  generally  free  from 
marsh  and  swamps.  He  alludes  to  the  fact  that  the  Ottawa 
Indians  living  on  Grand  and  Little  Traverse  Bays  and 
Manistee  Eiver  have  extensive  cultivated  fields  which  uni- 
formly produce  abundant  crops,  etc. 

The  general  geology  of  the  district  he  arranges  in  tabular 
form,  and  announces  the  fact  that  by  "  referring  to  the  above 
locations  of  the  rocks  of  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  same  rocks,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  occur 
on  both  sides  of  the  State,  having  the  same  geological  posi- 
tion; also  that  they  have  very  nearly  parallel  and  uniform 
positions.  And  from  their  outcrops  the  rocks  would  appear 
to  have  a  bearing  nearly  north  70  deg.  west,  and  south  70 
deg.  east,  which  line  of  bearing  corresponds  with  the  outcrop 
of  the  black  bituminious  slate  on  the  east  side  of  Lake  Huron 
and  Upper  Canada.'7 

A  general  description  is  given  of  the  rocks  of  Lakes  Huron 
and  Michigan  within  his  district  that  contained  fossils  and 
minerals,  and  of  their  economical  value  and  their  want  of  it. 
Allusion  is  also  made  to  ancient  lake  ridges,  corresponding  in 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  233 

character  with  the  one  determined  by  Mr.  Hubbard  in  the 
reports  of  last  year,  as  occurring  in  the  southern  part  of  the 

State.     The  elevations  extended  to  140  feet  above  the  present 

\ 

water  level;  they  were  found  most  fully  exhibited  on  the 
islands  and  on  the  main  land  bordering  the  straits  of 
Mackinaw. 

No.  3 — Report  of  B.  Hubbard,  assistant  geologist,  January 
24,  1841,  states  that  upon  the  return  from  the  portion  of  our 
State  bordering  on  Lake  Superior,  where  his  services  had  been 
required  during  a  large  part  of  the  season,  he  recommenced 
the  detailed  surveys  in  the  organized  counties  of  Michigan. 
These  were  conducted  with  a  more  especial  view  to  the  deter- 
mination of  the  extent  and  value  of  the  coal  district  of  the 
peninsula.  He  adds:  "  A  great  mass  of  information  both  of 
practical  and  purely  scientific  character,  and  which  could  not  be 
transferred  to  the  maps  nor  be  suitably  embodied  in  the  annual 
reports,  has  been  compiled  from  my  field  notes,  arranged  for 
future  reference  and  for  such  use  as  may  be  found  advisable 
in  the  final  report  of  the  survey. " 

The  report  then  proceeds  to  exhibit  a  comprehensive  view 
of  the  rock  formations  throughout  the  organized  counties  of 
the  State. 

"The  'geological  section'  attached/7  he  states,  "will  serve 
to  exhibit  at  a  glance  the  succession  of  the  rock  formations, 
from  the  universally  superimposed  sands  and  gravels  down 
to  the  great  lime  rock  formation  of  the  southern  portion  of 
the  State  bordering  on  Lake  Erie.  This  is  intended  to  show 
the  rocky  basis  which  would  be  exhibited  to  view  if  the  coun- 
try could  be  cleft  through  in  a  line  from  Lake  Erie  to  Maple 
Eiver  in  Clinton  county.  The  rocks  in  this  section  are 


234  APPENDIX. 

grouped  according  to  their  distinguished  characters  and  rela- 
tive positions,  and  each  group  is  distinguished  by  an  alpha- 
betical letter  corresponding  to  the  table.  Subdivisions  are 
given  in  the  body  of  the  report." 

NOTE. — This  "  geological  section,"  which  is  here  repro- 
duced from  the  field  notes  of  Mr.  Hubbard,  was  intended  to 
accompany  his  report  but  had  to  be  omitted  because  of  the 
want  of  a  capable  engraver  at  Detroit.  It  is  here  published 
for  the  first  time. 


General  Geology  of  the  Organized  Counties  of  Michigan. 

In  the  "  section  "  alluded  to  the  rocks  embraced  within  the 
district  under  consideration  are  divided  into  groups,  as  fol- 
lows : 

A.  Erratic  block  group,    or  Diluviums. — a.  Alluvions, 
ancient,  recent. 

B.  Tertiary  clays. 

(  Upper  coal  and  shale. 

O      foal  measures    J  Lower  coal  and  shale- 
°'  ^  1  Including  sandstones. 

[  Limestone  stratum. 

D.  Sub  carboniferous  sandstones. 

E.  Clay  c  nd  kidney -ironstone  formation. 

F.  Sandstones,  of  Point  aux  Barques. 

G.  Argillaceous  slates  and  flags,  of  Lake  Huron. 
H.     Soft,  light  colored,  sandstones. 

I.     Black,  aluminous  slate. 
K.     Limerocks,  of  Lake  Erie. 

These  will  now  be  considered,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  in  their 
consecutive  order,  beginning  with  the  highest  in  the  series. 


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FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.          235 

ERRATIC  BLOCK  GROUP,  OR  DILUVIAL  DEPOSITS. 

These  consists  of  sand,  pebbles,  and  large  water-worn 
masses  of  previously  existing  rocks,  with  occasional  small 
local  beds  of  clay.  They  have  a  thickness  varying  from  one 
to  upwards  of  one  hundred  feet ;  they  form  a  universal  mantle 
to  the  rocks  and  constitute  the  soils  of  all  the  interior  counties. 

As  this  whole  deposit  is  one  of  transport  by  water,  and  is 
made  up  of  the  detritus  and  disruptured  fragments  of  hetero- 
geneous formations,  its  character  depends  upon  that  of  the 
rocks  from  which  it  is  derived.  For  instance,  sand  constitutes 
by  far  the  greater  proportion,  and  this  circumstance  may  be 
in  part  accounted  for,  from  the  fact  of  the  immense  extent  of 
sandstone  rocks  existing  farther  to  the  north  ;  and  in  part,  by 
the  fact,  further  disclosed  by  the  geological  researches  in  the 
peninsula,  that  an  immense  thickness  of  rocks,  mostly  sand- 
stone, which  composed  the  upper  series  of  the  coal  measures, 
has  been  broken  up  and  removed  from  our  geological  series. 
Fine  gravel  constitutes  the  diluvium  in  the  next  proportion, 
and  is  the  result  of  a  similar  abrasion  of  rocks  of  harder  ma- 
terials. Owing  to  the  friable  nature  of  the  sandstones,  as 
might  be  expected,  few  large  boulders  of  that  material  occur. 
Limestone  pebbles  and  boulders  are  abundant ;  a  condition 
which  also  might  be  looked  for,  when  we  take  into  view  the 
immense  extent  and  thickness  of  the  limerocks  of  our  state, 
they  being  by  far  the  most  prominent  formation  above  the 
primary. 

These  relations  of  the  component  parts  of  our  diluviums 
give  a  character  to  the  soils  of  the  peninsula,  which  enables 
us  to  compare  them  most  favorably  with  those  of  most  other 
states  in  the  union.  Thcugh  being  very  generally  what  may 
be  denominated  sandy  or  gravelly,  and  often  answering  in 
appearance  to  a  description  of  soils  which,  in  the  eastern  states, 
are  considered  as  absolutely  barren,  the  variety  and  due 
intermixture  of  their  components,  and  more  particularly  the 
large  proportion  of  carbonate  of  lime  which  is  combined  with 
them,  either  in  the  form  of  pebbles,  or  in  a  very  comminuted 


236  APPENDIX. 

state,  impart  to  them  unusual  strength  and  fertility.  The 
latter  circumstance  is  that  which  so  admirably  adapts  them 
to  the  growth  of  wheat,  and  in  this  respect,  most  of  the  soils 
of  the  peninsula  may  fairly  be  pronounced  unrivalled. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  causes  which  swept  these 
materials  over  the  face  of  the  rocks,  whether  oceanic  currents 
or  bodies  of  floating  ice,  the  character  of  these  diluviums,  as 
well  as  numerous  accompanying  facts,  plainly  imply  that  they 
came  in  a  direction  northerly  from  their  present  beds,  and 
often  from  great  distances.  Consequently  we  find  intermin- 
gled, as  well  as  scattered  upon  the  surface,  numerous  rounded 
fragments  of  those  primary  rocks  which  are  known  to  exist  in 
the  peninsula  of  northern  Michigan  and  in  Canada,  from  the 
size  of  the  largest  "  hard-heads  "  down  to  fine  gravel.  In  pro- 
ceeding from  our  state  southerly,  these  deposits  are  found 
gradually  to  thin  out,  evincing  a  diminution  of  the  sustaining 
power  with  the  increased  distance  from  the  original  bed  of  the 
transported  materials.  So  that,  while  the  peninsula  of  Michi- 
gan has  been  most  liberally  supplied  with  an  uncommonly 
deep  and  arable  soil,  made  up  of  a  variety  of  materials,  the 
states  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  on  the  south,  are  in  great  parts 
destitute ;  its  place  being  supplied  by  the  clays  of  the  next 
lower  formation. 

The  deposition  of  these  materials  took  place  with  or  with- 
out apparent  order  and  uniformity,  according  to  the  character 
of  the  existing  surface,  and  other  circumstances  which  may 
have  governed  the  transporting  forces.  From  this  cause  con- 
siderable variations  are  to  be  found  in  the  depth,  nature  and 
composition  of  the  diluviums,  and  hence,  also,  material  differ- 
ences are  occasioned  in  the  soils  and  other  characteristics  of 
the  country.  In  many  places  a  uniform  stratification  has  taken 
place,  as  if  the  result  of  quiet  deposition.  This  is  more  par- 
ticularly apparent  on  the  east  and  south  side  of  the  main  ridge 
of  the  peninsula,  and  may  be  considered  as  a  natural  conse- 
quence of  so  considerable  an  obstacle  as  this  partial  barrier 
must  have  interposed  to  the  force  of  northerly  currents.  Here, 
wells  have  been  carried  to  the  depth  of  90  feet,  through  beds 
of  stratified  gravel. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  237 

Throughout  all  the  diluviums,  thin  local  beds  of  clay  are  of 
frequent  occurrence,  and  occasional  strata  of  hard  pan  or 
cemented  pebbles.  These  clays,  unlike  those  of  the  tertiary, 

contain  little  or  no  lime. 

» 

Most  of  the  country  thus  covered  by  the  diluvial  deposits 
exhibits  the  action  of  strong  currents  and  eddies  in  a  very 
striking  manner.  Districts  of  many  miles  extent  frequently 
present  a  continued  and  close  succession  of  rolling  knobs  or 
cones  of  gravel,  with  deep  intervening  basins.  The  more 
ordinary  character  of  surface  is  a  gentle  roll  or  slight  undula- 
tion, occasionally  subsiding  to  a  perfect  plain. 

Except  where  a  deposit  of  clay  underlies,  the  growth  of 
timber  is  almost  invariably  scanty,  constituting  what  are 
denominated  "  oak  openings."  The  character  of  their  timber 
changes  with  the  varying  conditions  of  the  soil,  from  white 
and  black  oak  to  burr  oak  or  hickory,  and  the  plains  are  fre- 
quently altogether  destitute  of  timber.  A  dense  growth  of 
the  usual  hard  wood  timber  sometimes  occurs  over  isolated 
tracts,  in  swales,  or  along  banks  of  streams.  Of  the  character 
of  country  described  are  found  the  three  most  southerly 
ranges  of  counties,  with  the  exception  of  those  which  imme- 
diately border  the  peninsula  on  the  great  lakes,  together  with 
parts  of  the  adjoining  counties,  and  the  counties  of  Ingham  and 
Eaton.  All  the  latter  have  a  sub-stratum  of  'clay  belonging 
to  the  great  deposit  to  be  presently  described,  and  in  conse- 
quence differ  very  materially  in  surface,  soil  and  timber. 

To  this  extreme  thickness  and  comparatively  loose  texture 
of  the  diluviums,  may  be  ascribed  the  great  abundance  of 
springs,  and  consequently  of  the  small  streams  which  irrigate 
the  whole  surface  of  the  state,  affording  abundance  of  that  ele- 
ment so  desirable  to  the  farmer.  An  undulating  surface  gives 
to  most  of  these  a  sufficiently  rapid  flow  to  prese;  Ye  a  healthy 
current  and  to  furnish  a  sufficiency  of  mill  powei  From  the 
same  cause,  also,  little  difficulty  is  experienced  in  obtaining 
pure  water  by  sinking  of  wells,  and  it  may  safely  be  said  that 
Michigan  is  better  supplied  with  living  water,  uniformly  dis- 
tributed, than  any  other  state  in  the  Union. 


238  APPENDIX. 

The  vast  numbers  of  small  lakes  for  which  Michigan  is  so 
remarkable,  are  due  to  the  same  causes.  They  occupy  gene- 
rally deep  hollows,  seemingly  scooped  out  of  the  mass  of  dilu- 
vium, and  are  fed  by  the  living  springs  that  percolate  through 
it.  The  number  of  these  peninsular  lakes  is  stated  by  the  state 
topographer  at  not  less  than  3, 000  ;  being  in  proportion  of  one 
acre  of  water  to  every  thirty-nine  of  dry  land. 

Another  striking  feature  in  the  peninsula  landscape  is  the 
number  and  extent  of  wet  prairies  or  marsh.  Of  these  the 
proportion  is  much  larger  than  of  the  lakes,  and  they  often 
cover  many  miles  of  surface.  These  have  their  origin  also 
from  springs  issuing  from  the  diluvium,  aided  often  by  the 
artifical  dams  of  the  beaver,  and  from  being  originally  mere 
pools  or  shallow  lakes,  in  time  they  become  receptacles  for 
beds  of  marl  and  peat.  From  the  very  tolerable  hay  which 
these  prairies  afford,  and  the  very  early  supply  of  tender 
" feeding"  for  cattle,  in  the  spring,  the  apparently  waste 
places  have  been  an  invaluable  aid  to  the  settlement  of  the 
country.  The  primitive  settler  came  hither,  not  to  a  desert 
waste  or  a  "  howling  wilderness,"  but  to  lands  cleared  without 
aid  from  the  woodman's  axe,  and  verdant  with  unsown  crops. 
He  did  not  wait  to  provide  pasture,  but  brought  his  herds 
and  flocks  with  him,  and  the  marshes  furnished  them  ample 
sustenance  throughout  the  year.  And  we  hazard  nothing  in 
saying  that  these  marshes,  waste  as  many  of  them  are  now 
suffered  to  be,  are  destined  to  become  still  more  valuable  in 
sustaining  the  failing  vigor  of  the  country  whose  youthful 
prosperity  they  promoted.  Their  successful  drainage  is  no 
longer  a  matter  of  experiment.  Scarcely  a  marsh  of  much 
extent  exists,  which  is  not  capable  of  thorough  drainage,  with 
comparatively  small  expense,  and,  when  thus  subdued,  of  fur- 
nishing a  soil  rich  almost  beyond  comparison.  The  literally 
exhaustless  beds  of  marl  and  peat  with  which  these  marshes 
abound,  constitute  another  item  of  value  no  less  important. 
But  the  consideration  of  these  may  more  properly  be  referred 
to  the  head  of  Recent  Alluvions. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  239 

But  though  affording  a  medium  for  the  absorption  of  rain 
waters  and  their  percolation  through  strata  of  gravel  or  quick- 
sand, the  diluviums  are  rendered  sufficiently  retentive,  by  the 
alumina  contained  in  them,  and  by  seams  of  cemented  gravel 
and  sand.  Were  it  not  for  this,  the  moisture  absorbed  by  our 
light,  sandy  soils,  would  soon  be  drained  oif  and  lost  to  the 
crops.  A  sub-stratum  of  cemented  gravel,  retentive  of  water, 
is  common  to  many  if  not  all  the  prairies,  and  to  this  circum- 
stance may  no  doubt,  in  great  measure,  be  ascribed  their 
accumulation  of  rich  loam  and  consequent  fertility. 

Much  curious  inquiry  has  been  excited  on  the  question  of 
the  causes  which  produced  the  peculiar  varied  and  open  char- 
acter of  so  large  a  portion  of  our  peninsula.  After  the  view 
which  we  have  just  taken  of  our  diluviums,  it  may  seem  less  a 
matter  of  surprise,  that  portions  of  the  state  should  be  adapted 
to  the  production  of  a  dense  growth  of  hard  timber,  and  others 
only  to  the  several  species  of  oaks  or  to  hickory,  according  to 
the  continually  varying  conditions  of  the  soil  and  its  sub- 
strata The  existing  analogies  of  the  vegetable  world,  which 
exhibit  similar  results  elsewhere,  might  lead  us  co  infer  these 
changes,  and  we  may,  without  doubt,  attribute  to  the  peculiar 
characteristics  of  our  diluvial  envelop,  and  its  varying  con- 
ditions, the  accompanying  peculiarities  in  the  features  of  the 
country  and  the  growth  and  character  of  its  timber. 

How  far  the  impervious  character  of  the  uhard  pan," 
which  so  generally,  if  not  universally,  forms  the  sub-stratum 
to  the  prairies  and  plains,  may  account  for  the  destitution  or 
sparse  growth  of  large  trees,  we  are  not  altogether  prepared  to 
decide,  and,  therefore,  avoid  for  the  present,  considerations 
which  at  best  may  be  considered  somewhat  theoretical.  Nor 
will  we  assume  to  decide,  with  confidence,  upon  the  extent  of 
the  eifects  produced  by  the  ravages  of  the  annual  fires  which 
formerly  swept  over  these  tracts.  It  is  but  reasonable  to  con- 
clude that  all  these,  and  perhaps  other  concomitant  causes 
have  operated  together  in  producing  the  results  we  witness, 
while,  according  to  peculiar  circumstances,  one  of  these  several 
causes  may  have  operated  more  or  less  powerfully  than  others. 


240  APPENDIX. 

ANCIENT  ALLUVION. 

As  the  consideration  of  that  immense  mass  of  materials  to 
which  has  been  applied  the  name  of  diluviums  or  erratic  block 
group,  was  necessary,  in  order  to  a  correct  appreciation  of 
those  lesser  deposits  now  to  be  considered,  (which  are  asso- 
ciated with,  and  in  fact  compose  a  part  of  the  former, )  that 
important  group  claimed  our  first  attention.  We  come  now 
to  the  consideration  of  a  class  of  deposits  which  may  be  called 
alluvial. 

Some  interesting  facts  in  relation  to  the  assumption  that  the 
waters  of  the  great  lakes  were  formerly  at  a  much  higher 
level  than  at  present,  covering  a  large  part  of  the  border 
portions  of  the  peninsula,  were  noticed  in  my  report  of  last 
year.  During  the  past  season  a  continuation  of  the  "ridge," 
which  is  supposed  to  coincide  with  the  beach  of  the  ancient 
lake,  has  been  traced  through  Macomb  into  St.  Clair  county/ 
and  further  facts  confirmatory  of  the  positions  assumed  last 
year  were  observed  in  other  more  northerly  districts.  In  the 
county  of  Macomb  this  ridge  has  been  much  broken  up  by 
crossing  streams,  and  is  very  irregular,  showing  frequently 
the  existence  of  large  entering  bays  and  curvatures  of  the 
coast.  This  was  the  more  particularly  noticed  from  the  fact 
that  elsewhere,  so  far  as  observed,  the  course  of  the  ridge  is 
very  remarkably  continuous  and  well  defined.  In  this  county 
also  a  number  of  inferior  ridges  of  evidently  similar  origin 
were  observed  between  the  main  one  and  the  present  lake 
shore,  leading  to  the  supposition  that  the  subsidence  of  the 
waters  did  not  take  place  gradually  and  constantly,  but  that 
sudden  lapses  occurred  and  the  water  line  had  been  stationary 
at  intervals. 

The  soil  and  detrital  matter  superficially  covering  that 
portion  of  the  peninsula  which  is  embraced  between  this 
ancient  lake  ridge  and  the  present  shores  of  the  lakes,  I  have 
denominated  ancient  alluvion,  to  distinguish  them  as  well  from 
alluvions  now  in  process  of  formation  as  from  the  immense 
mass  of  diluviums  which  overspreads  the  whole  interior  of  the 
State  beyond  this  separating  ridge. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  241 

The  portion  thus  distinguished  by  alluvial  deposits  em- 
braces a  broad  belt  of  border  country,  varying  in  width  from 
about  25  to  50  miles.  It  is,  with  small  local  exceptions 
heavily  timbered  and  very  level.  But  on  passing  the  bound- 
ing ridge  there  is  in  general  an  almost  immediate  change  to  a 
soil  of  coarser  character  and  a  more  undulating  surface. 
This  ancient  alluvion  is  a  deposit  from  a  quiescent  condition 
of  the  waters,  and  similar  to  that  which  is  now  taking  place 
in  the  beds  of  the  present  lakes.  It  forms  in  general  but  a 
thin  mantle  to  the  underlying  formations,  consisting  often  of 
mere  ridges  of  sand,  and  owing  to  the  deprivation  of  its  lime, 
has  in  general  less  fertility  than  the  diluviums. 

The  heavily  timbered  district  is  not  altogether  coincident 
with  the  extent  of  this  alluvion,  but  is  dependent  chiefly  upon 
the  following  cause.  Throughout  their  whole  extent  the 
alluvions  are  underlaid  by  the  tertiary  clays.  These  are  a 
formation  anterior  to  both  the  dilluviums  and  alluvions,  and 
are  frequently  found  extending  far  beyond  the  old  lake  ridge. 
The  country  thus  underlaid  is  that  which  is  almost  wholly 
clothed  with  a  dense  growth  of  timber.  This  formation  will 
be  found  described  under  the  head  of  tertiary  clays. 

RECENT  ALLUVIONS. 

Under  this  head  I  shall  here  allude  only  to  local  beds  of 
marl,  bog  ores  and  peat. 

Marl  occurs  in  the  greatest  abundance,  universally  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  diluvial  district,  and  consists  of  local 
deposits  which  originate  solely  from  the  lime  so  profusely 
contained  in  the  diluviums.  Such  beds  are  in  constant  pro- 
cess of  formation  and  increase  wherever  that  ingredient 
exists.  As'  it  is  present  in  a  much  less  degree  in  the  ancient 
alluvion  no  extensive  beds  are  consequently  found  throughout 
the  district  occupied  by  the  latter. 

Bog  iron  ores  are  deposits  originating  in  a  similar  manner 
from  the  iron  contained  in  the  soil,  which  is  dissolved  out  by 
the  rain  waters  and  collects  in  low  grounds. 

(16) 


242  APPENDIX. 

Peat  beds  are  exclusively  of  vegetable  origin,  and  are  com- 
mon both  to  the  alluvial  and  diluvial  districts. 

The  character,  abundance,  and  value  of  the  marl,  peat  and 
bog  ore  beds  of  our  State  having  been  fully  dwelt  upon  in  the 
reports  of  last  year,  I  shall  make  no  further  remarks  upon  their 
practical  applications.  I  cannot  avoid,  nevertheless,  once 
again  directing  the  attention  of  the  farmer  of  Michigan  to  the 
fact  of  the  unexampled  abundance  in  which  the  two  former 
occur,  conveniently  distributed  for  universal  use  as  a  manure, 
and  urging  the  use  of  them,  as  the  cheapest  and  in  most  cases 
the  best  of  mineral  manures,  and  which  will  be  found  a  very 
important  means  of  improvement  in  his  agricultural  economy. 

Organic  Remains. 

Bones  of  the  mastodon  were  last  year  discovered  in  the 
ancient  alluvion,  in  the  western  part  of  Macomb  county. 
They  were  mostly  so  much  decayed  as  not  to  bear  exposure  to 
the  atmosphere,  and  a  molar  tooth  only  has  been  preserved. 
Similar  relics  were  several  years  ago  disinterred  on  the  Paw 
Paw  Eiver  in  Berrien  county.  There  is  now  in  possession  of 
a  gentleman  in  this  city  a  vertebral  bone  of  enormous  size 
said  to  have  been  found  many  years  ago  upon  the  St.  Joseph 
Eiver,  and  which  is  pronounced  by  the  State  zoologist,  Dr. 
Sager,  to  be  the  caudal  vertebra  of  a  whale.  It  measures  in 
vertical  diameter,  including  spinous  process,  18  inches; 
transverse  diameter,  including  lateral  processes, 2  feet;  diameter 
of  body,  11  inches;  length  of  body,  1<H  inches;  length  of 
spinous  process,  9  inches.  Its  weight  is  21  Ibs.,  which  is 
probably  less  than  one-half  its  original  weight,  as  the  bone  is 
partially  decayed. 

TERTIARY  CLAYS. 

These  extensive  deposits  belong  to  an  era  subsequent  to 
the  removal  of  the  upper  coal  bearing  rocks.  They  cover  all 
the  border  counties  on  the  east  and  west  slopes  of  the  penin- 
sula, and  in  some  instances  stretch  far  inland.  These  clays 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  243 

extend  over  more  than  two-thirds  of  that  part  of  the  State 
which  lies  south  of  Saginaw,  Maple  and  Grand  Bivers,  em- 
bracing nearly  the  whole  of  the  counties  of  Ottawa,  Allegan, 
Van  Buren,  Berrien,  Monroe,  "Wayne,  Macomb,St.Clair,  Sanilac, 
Huron,  Tuscola,  Saginaw,  Lapeer,  Clinton  and  Eaton,  and  a 
large  portion  of  lugham,  Genesee,  Shiawassee,  Ionia,  Kent, 
St.  Joseph,  Branch,  Hillsdale  and  Lenawee.  The  remaining 
portions  of  the  counties  last  named,  and  very  nearly  the 
whole  of  Oakland,  Livingstone,  Washtenaw,  Jackson,  Cal- 
houn,  Kalamazoo  and  Cass,  are  destitute  of  this  sub-clay 
formation,  and  their  diluviums  rest  immediately  upon  the 
rocks. 

A  dense  growth  of  timber  almost  invariably  accompanies 
this  formation,  whatever  may  be  the  immediate  soil.  We 
find  this  observation  applicable  to  large  portions  of  Eaton, 
Ingham,  Clinton,  Shiawassee  and  Genesee  counties,  though 
these  counties  are  based  in  part  on  the  sandstone  rocks  of  the 
coal  series,  and  have  sandy,  diluvial  soils,  while  the  sandstone 
country  south  of  them  presents  little  else  than  oak  openings 
and  plains. 

These  clays  are  an  extension  of  the  same  formation  which 
covers  the  western  and  northern  part  of  Ohio,  and  the  east 
and  north  of  Indiana,  and  which  constitutes  the  soil  of  a 
large  proportion  of  those  districts. 

The  upper  portion  is  a  gravelly,  yellowish  clay,  varying  in 
thickness  from  one  to  fifteen  feet,  and  having  an  average 
probably  not  exceeding  5  feet.  Beneath  this  is  a  similar  clay 
of  a  blue  color,  and  which  in  some  places  has  been  found  to 
exceed  in  thickness  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet.  Both  clays 
contain  at  least  20  per  cent.,  by  weight,  of  carbonate  of  lime, 
and  this  marly  character  injures  them  materially  for  the 
manufacture  of  bricks  or  pottery. 

On  the  western  slope  of  the  peninsula  the  place  of  the 
yellow  and  blue  clays  is  sometimes  supplied  by  clay  of  a 
reddish  color  of  great  thickness.  No  fossils  have  yet  been 
discovered  in  any  of  the  clays  of  this  formation. 


244  APPENDIX. 

Coal  Measures. 

The  rocks  which  include  the  coal  beds  of  our  State  occupy, 
comparatively,  but  a  small  portion  of  that  part  of  the  State 
under  consideration,  and  are  embraced  within  the  counties  of 
Jackson,  Calhoun,  Ingham,  Eaton,  Kent,  Ionia,  Clinton,  Shia- 
wassee  and  Genesee.  They  consist  of  strata  of  sandstone, 
shale,  coal  and  limestone.  Covered  as  these  rocks  are  with 
thick  deposits  of  diluviums  and  clays,  they  make  out  crops  at 
but  few  points,  and  the  determination  of  their  order  and  extent 
has  been  a  matter  of  no  small  difficulty.  From  the  dip  of  the 
rocks  composing  these  measures  there  can  be  little  doubt  that 
the  coal  basin  extends  northerly  beyond  the  counties  named, 
perhaps  as  far  as  to  the  head  branches  of  the  Tittabawassee 
and  Maskego  Eivers.  But  that  country  is  as  yet  almost  wholly 
unsettled,  and  though  partial  explorations  have  been  made 
through  it  since  the  commencement  of  the  geological  surveys, 
the  thick  mass  of  overlying  materials  has  hitherto  prevented 
a  determination  of  the  northerly  extent  of  these  rocks 

Limestone  Stratum. 

As  this  stratum,  from  its  position,  (being  the  lowest  in  the 
series)  determines  the  extent  of  the  rocks  considered  as  com- 
posing our  coal  basin,  I  shall,  for  the  sake  of  greater  precision 
give  to  it  the  first  consideration. 

A  gray  limestone,  in  irregular,  detached  beds,  is  found 
along  the  extreme  border  of  the  coal  bearing  sandstones. 
They  are  evidently  relics,  in  place,  of  a  thin  but  extensive 
stratum,  and  as  no  coal  has  been  found  below  this  rock,  I  have 
assumed  it  as  the  terminating  rock  of  the  "  coal  measures" 
proper  of  our  state.  Following  this  rock,  as  it  makes  its  occa- 
sional appearance,  the  southerly  limits  of  the  coal  basin  may 
be  traced  by  a  line  drawn  from  the  Shiawassee  Eiver,  at 
Corunna,  through  the  easterly  parts  of  Ingham  and  Jackson, 
between  ranges  one  and  two  east  to  near  Napoleon  in  the  latter 
county.  It  then  turns  westerly  through  town  three  south, 
ranges  one  and  two  west ;  from  whence,  taking  a  direction 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  245 

north-westerly  it  pursues  an  irregular  line,  passing  through 
Bellevue  in  the  south-west  corner  of  Eaton  county  to  Grand 
Kapids,  in  Kent  county.  Here  the  liine  rock  is  more  extended 
and  a  thickness  has  been  determined  to  it  of  fourteen  feet. 
The  rock  is  characterized  by  the  fossils  Nucula  and  Cyatho- 
phyllum  vermiculare.  This  stratum  affords  the  only  lime- 
stone for  the  kiln  or  other  purposes,  except  occasional  boulders, 
to  be  found  in  the  interior  of  the  state,  and  its  value  is  the 
more  to  be  appreciated  as  the  formation  is  itself  of  very  limited 
extent. 

Lower  Coal. 

But  two  continuous  beds  of  workable  coal  are  ascertained 
to  exist  in  the  state.  The  lowest  of  these  lies  at  a  small  dis- 
tance only  above  the  limestone  stratum,  and  is  associated  with 
a  very  thick  bed  of  shale,  which  is  also  sufficiently  bituminous 
to  answer  the  purpose  of  an  inferior  coal. 

Coal  of  Jackson  County. — That  portion  of  the  lower  coal  bed 
which  underlies  a  portion  of  this  county  makes  an  outcrop  in 
the  valley  of  Sandstone  Creek,  town  of  Spring  Arbor,  and  has 
there  been  penetrated  to  the  depth  of  three  feet.  The  thick 
bed  of  shale  opened  at  Jackson  undoubtedly  is  associated  with 
and  belongs  to  this  coal  stratum. 

Coal  of  Ingham  County. — Passing  down  the  easterly  side  of 
the  basin  the  coal  is  again  met  with  ,in  the  north-east  corner 
town  of  Ingham  county,  where  it  is  embraced  in  a  succession 
of  shales  and  friable  sandstone,  cropping  out  in  the  bank  sand 
bed  of  the  Eed  Cedar  Kiver.  The  coal  has  here  been  pene- 
trated two  and  a  half  feet.  But  neither  here  nor  in  Jackson 
county  is  the  entire  thickness  of  the  bed  determined.  "The 
coal  at  this  point,"  as  is  observed  in  the  report  of  Mr.  Doug- 
lass, of  last  year,  "is  very  accessible,  and  must,  ere  long, 
prove  of  great  importance.  It  is  situated  on  a  stream  that  may 
be  made  navigable  for  flat  bottomed  boats  and  perogues,  with 
comparatively  small  expense,  for  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
year,  and  opening  a  direct  communication  with  Lake  Michi- 
gan. " 


246  APPENDIX. 

It  may  here  be  observed  that  the  coal  of  this  lower  bed, 
universally,  has  more  than  usual  compactness  and  purity,  and 
is  equal  to  the  best  bituminous  coal  of  Pennsylvania. 

Coal  of  Shiawassee  County. — The  coal  again  makes  its  ap- 
pearance at  the  border  of  the  basin  near  the  county  seat  of 
Shiawassee  county,  where  it  crops  out  between  thick  and 
extensive  layers  of  sandstone  in  the  banks  of  the  small  creek 
entering  Shiawassee  Eiver.  The  coal  has  here  a  thickness  of 
from  three  and  a  half  to  four  feet,  and  is  accompanied  by  shale 
the  entire  thickness  of  which  is  not  ascertained.  This  coal  is 
very  eligibly  situated  for  mining.  It  is  of  excellent  quality," 
and  the  dip  is  so  slight  that  but  little  depth  of  excavation  will 
be  required.  This  is  the  only  locality  in  the  state  where  coal, 
to  much  extent,  has  been  raised  for  economical  use.  Both  the 
coal  and  associated  shale  are  constantly  employed  to  great 
advantage  at  the  steam  mill  of  Mr.  McArthur,  in  Corunna,  as 
well  as  by  neighboring  smiths. 

From  an  area  of  eight  by  nine  feet  Mr.  McA.  raised  four 
hundred  and  sixty  bushels  of  coal  and  shale,  and  he  informs 
me  it  can  be  sold  at  the  county  seat  for  ten  cents  per  bushel. 

The  underlying  limerock  stratum  makes  an  out  crop  about 
a  mile  south-west  from  this  point,  in  a  bed  of  probably  many 
acres  in  extent. 

Shales  of  Flint  Eiver. — The  coal  bed  and  its  accoinpaning 
shale  may  be  traced  still  further  east,  to  the  Flint  ^  Eiver,  in 
Genesee  county.  Here  the  former  probably  has  nearly  thinned 
out,  as  only  loose  masses  are  found  in  [the  bed  of  the  river. 
The  associated  black  shale  and  slate  may  be  observed  in  the 
river  banks,  (town  eight  north,  five  west, )  where  it  attains  a 
thickness  of  sixteen  feet,  and  is  underlaid  by  the  sandrock. 

The  coal  of  the  Shiawassee  and  Flint  Eivers  appears  to 
occupy  the  extreme  edge  of  the  coal  basin,  which  here  thins 
out  into  a  wedge  form,  narrowing  gradually  until  it  terminates 
in  a  mere  point,  probably  as  far  easterly  as  Lapeer  county. 
The  inclination  of  the  strata  is  north-westerly,  to  an  amount 
which  would  soon  carry  the  coal  beneath  the  surface  j  but 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  247 

appearances  seem  to  warrant  the  conclusion  that  at  this  point 
a  large  part  of  the  rocks  of  the  coal  measures  continued  north- 
erly have  been  entirely  removed. 

Upper  Coal. 

The  outcrops  of  this  coal,  within  that  part  of  the  state  under 
consideration  are  of  small  extent.  It  is  found  at  the  surface 
on  or  near  Grand  Biver,  in  the  northern  part  of  Eaton  county, 
and  with  its]  associated  shales  and  sandstones,  occupies  the 
central  part  of  the  coal  basin,  probably  including  the  whole  of 
Clinton  and  Gratiot  counties.  Except  in  the  extreme  south- 
west corner  of  the  former  county  it  lies  too  deep  for  examina- 
tion. 

Most  of  this  coal  is  inferior  in  quality  and  thickness  to  the 
lower  coal.  It  composes  several  layers  not  exceeding  in  thick- 
ness from  one  to  two  feet  each,  and  is  embraced  in  alternating 
strata  of  dark  gray  shales,  blue  clay,  sandstones  and  thin  beds 
of  argillaceous  iron  ore,  exceeding  in  the  whole  20  feet. 

Coal  of  Eaton  County. — Sections  of  the  alternating  strata  of 
coal  and  accompanying  rocks,  taken  on  Coal  and  Grindstone 
Creeks,  were  given  by  Mr.  Douglass  in  his  report  of  last  year. 

As  that  report  contained  full  local  details  of  all  the  coal- 
bearing  rocks  of  Jackson,  Ingham  and  Eaton  counties,  I  shall 
here  allude  to  the  rocks  of  that  portion  of  the  state  only  in 
such  a  general  manner  as  will  be  necessary  in  order  to  afford 
a  comprehensive  view  of  the  extent  and  value  of  the  coal 
measures  of  our  state.  By  reference  to  the  document  alluded 
to,  it  will  be  seen  that,  though  inferior  in  thickness  to  the 
lower  coal  bed,  the  several  strata  of  coal  exposed  on  the  creeks 
above  mentioned,  have  an  aggregate  thickness  of  from  two  to 
three  feet,  and  will,  no  doubt,  prove  of  importance  under  a 
more  settled  condition  of  that  portion  of  the  state. 

INCLUDED  SANDSTONES  OF  THE  COAL  MEASURES. 

Gray  and  Yellow  Sandstones. — The  sandrocks  included 
between  the  upper  and  lower  coal  are  mostly  of  a  coarse  quart- 


248  APPENDIX. 

zose  character,  and  of  a  light  gray  or  yellow  color.  Most  of 
the  strata  are  friable,  but  harden  on  exposure.  They  are  dis- 
tinguished from  the  quartzose  sandstone  below  the  lower  coal, 
by  containing  impressions  of  the  coal  plants.  These  are  refer- 
able chiefly  to  the  genera  Lipidodendron,  Stigmaria  and 
Calamities. 

These  rocks  are  found  outcropping  at  numerous  points 
through  the  northern  part  of  Jackson  county,  the  western 
part  of  Ingham  and  eastern  part  of  Eaton  counties,  and  por- 
tions of  Calhoun,  Clinton,  Shiawassee  and  Genesee.  In  all  of 
the  above  named  counties  they  occur  in  situations  which 
admit  of  being  economically  quarried,  and  may  often  be 
obtained  in  firm  blocks  of  any  dimensions  required.  From 
this  series  of  sandrocks  was  furnished  the  material  for  the 
construction  of  the  State  penitentiary  at  Jackson,  and  at 
several  places,  as  at  Napoleon,  excellent  grindstones  are 
manufactured  from  it. 

Bed  or  variegated  sandstone. — This  rock  immediately  under- 
lies the  upper  coal  and  shales.  Its  outcropping  edge  is  found 
in  the  valley  of  Grand  Eiver  in  the  northern  part  of  Eaton 
county,  and  in  the  banks  of  the  Lookingglass  Eiver,  in  the 
adjoining  towns  of  Clinton  county,  and  in  township  seven 
north,  six  west,  Ionia  county.  No  fossil  plant  was  discovered 
in  this  rock.  It  has  been  employed  with  advantage  as  a 
building  material.  The  entire  thickness  of  the  included  sand- 
stones must  be  several  hundred  feet. 

The  following  general  section  will  exhibit  at  one  view,  the 
relative  order  and  thickness  of  all  the  rocks  of  our  coal  meas- 
ures, above  described,  so  far  as  a  subdivision  of  them  has 
been  found  practicable. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN. 


249 


General  Section,  Applicable  to  the  Coal  Basin  of  Michigan. 


Feet. 

Diluviums  and  tertiary  clays 1  to  100 

Brown  or  gray  sandstone* 20 

Argillaceous  iron  ore,  in  thin  included  beds* 1 

Coal  strata,  alternating  with  friable  slaty  sandstone 
and  thick  beds  of  black  shales  and  slate,*  in  the 
whole  probably 30 

Eed  or  variegated  sandstone  (Clinton  and  Ionia 
counties) 

d 

Light  gray,  coarse,  quartzose,  micaceous  sandstones. 
Generally  in  thick    layers    and  forming    ledges, 
mostly  friable  and  easily  quarried  (seen  at  intervals        ^ 
along  Grand  Eiver  from  Jackson  to  Grindstone 
Creek,  Eaton  county) 

Coal  and  black  bituminous  shale  (Jackson,  Inghain, 
Shiawassee  and  Genesee) 20 


Thickness. 


Blue,  compact,  slaty  sandstone  (Shiawassee  co) 


Gray  limestone,  found  in  local  beds,  being  relics  in 
place  of  a  once  continuous  stratum  (encircles  the 
coal  basin  from  Grand  Eapids  to  Shiawassee  Kiver) 


14 


The  rocks  in  the  above  section  embrace  all  those  which  are 
included  in  the  division  marked  C  in  the  "geological  section" 
prefixed  to  this  report. 

SANDSTONES  IMMEDIATELY  BELOW  THE  COAL. 

These  sandstones  (marked  D.  in  the  plate),  as  well  as  most 
of  the  formations  below  the  coal,  were  fully  described  in  my 


"Counties  of  Clinton  and  Eaton. 


250  APPENDIX. 

report  of  last  year.  I  shall,  therefore,  now  notice  them  only 
so  far  as  to  exhibit  their  relative  position  in  the  series,  viewed 
as  a  whole,  and  the  extent  of  country  occupied  by  them. 

These  sandstones,  which  in  the  report  alluded  to  are 
described  under  the  name  of  fossiliferous,  ferruginous  sandstones, 
excepting  in  some  of  the  uppermost  strata,  are  generally  fine 
grained  and  of  a  yellow  color.  Some  strata  of  the  latter 
abound  in  marine  fossil  shells,  among  which  the  genus  Nucula 
is  very  abundant,  and  there  were  observed  species  of  Atrypa, 
Bellerophon,  Euomphalis  and  Pterinea. 

Though  here  classed  as  beneath  the  coal  rocks,  these  sand- 
stones are  associated  with  that  series  of  rocks  which  are 
usually  regarded  as  belonging  to  the  carboniferous  era.  They 
occupy  nearly  the  whole  of  Calhoun  county,  the  lower  half  of 
Jackson  and  the  northern  half  of  Hillsdale  county  ;  through 
which  counties  their  outcrops  may  be  observed  at  numerous 
points,  or  they  are  reached  in  almost  all  the  deep  wells.  It  is 
probable,  also,  that  these  rocks  occupy  most  of  the  eastern 
portions  of  Jackson  and  Shiawassee  counties  east  of  the  lime- 
stone stratum  above  described  ;  and  they  make  their  appear- 
ance at  its  eastern  edge  on  Lake  Huron,  near  the  entrance  of 
Saginaw  Bay. 

The  aggregate  thickness  of  these  sandstones  may  be  esti- 
mated at  upwards  of  300  feet. 

CLAY,  CONTAINING  KIDNEY  ORE  OF  IRON. 

This  very  valuable  formation  immediately  succeeds  to  the 
sandstones  above  described,  underlying  them  and  cropping 
out  at  the  extreme  southerly  bend  of  the  basin.  It  occupies 
a  part  of  the  south-western  portion  of  Calhoun  county,  the 
whole  north-eastern  portion  of  Branch  county,  or  nearly  so, 
and  part  of  the  western  and  central  portions  of  Hillsdale. 

It  consists  of  an  indurated,  grayish  brown  clay,  having 
much  the  appearance  of  a  shaly  limestone  or  dark  gypsum, 
regularly  stratified,  in  which  are  imbedded  nodular  masses  of 
kidney  ironstone.  This  is  a  rich  and  valuable  ore  and  occurs 
at  several  points  conveniently  for  working. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF    MICHIGAN.  251 

This  formation  is  the  lowest  that  is  discoverable  in  this 
portion  of  the  state,  and  is  not  certainly  known  to  make  an 
outcrop  elsewhere. 

For  further  description  of  this  clay  and  its  contained  ore, 
I  refer  you  to  the  annual  report  of  the  State  Geologist  of  1840, 
and  to  my  own  appended  thereto,  for  many  practical  considera- 
tions relative  to  the  value  of  the  ore  and  its  imbedding  clay. 
This  formation  is  marked  E,  in  the  plate. 

SANDSTONES  OF  POINT  AUX  BARQUES. 

These  are  mostly  of  coarse,  greenish  gray  or  rusty  yellow 
rock,  in  some  of  the  layers  approaching  a  conglomerate. 
They  form  cliffs  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Huron  in  Huron 
county,  rising  at  Point  aux  Barques  to  twenty  feet.  Fossils 
are  rare,  but  Atrypa  and  Calymene  were  obtained.  These 
sandstones  occupy  the  coast  north  of  town  seventeen,  being 
visible  in  ledges  for  about  twenty  miles.  The  upper  portion 
of  the  series  contains  numerous  small  imbedded  pebbles  of 
quartz,  so  as  to  resemble  a  conglomerate  of  puddingstone, 
but  no  great  thickness  is  observable  of  rock  possessing  this 
character. 

An  extension  of  the  outcropping  edge  of  these  sandstones, 
it  is  probable,  gives  rise  to  that  swell  of  land  which  forms  the 
summit  level  of  the  peninsula,  stretching  in  a  south-westerly 
direction  from  Point  aux  Barques  to  Hillsdale  county,  where 
the  green  and  yellow  fossiliferous  sandstones,  above  described, 
overlie  it.  But  throughout  this  whole  extent  no  outcrop  of 
the  rock  is  visible  owing  to  the  thickness  of  the  diluviums. 

These  sandrocks,  taken  in  connection  with  the  formation 
next  described,  hold  a  place  in  the  geological  series,  corres- 
ponding to  the  "waverly  sandstones,"  and  "  conglomerate," 
of  Ohio,  but  the  deposition  seems  to  have  been  made  under 
somewhat  differing  circumstances.  No  well  defined  series  is 
apparent  in  our  state  answering  fully  to  the  Ohio  conglom- 
erate ;  though  the  upper  portion  of  the  sandstones  of  Point 
aux  Barques  approach  that  character. 


252  APPENDIX. 

The  whole  thickness  of  these  sandstones  probably  exceeds 
250  feet.     This  group  is  marked  F,  in  the  plate. 


CLAY  SLATES  AND  FLAGS  OF  LAKE  HURON. 

Alternating  with  the  lower  portions  of  the  sandstones  of 
Point  aux  Barques,  are  strata  of  slaty  sandstone,  approaching 
the  character  of  slate  ;  to  which  succeeds  a  compact  micaceous 
clay  slate  of  a  blue  color.  This  latter  rock  continues  to  occupy 
the  coast  for  about  thirty  miles,  or  from  township  twelve  to 
township  eighteen  north,  and  rises  in  ledges  of  from  five  to 
fifteen  feet. 

The  slaty  sandstones  intervening  between  these  clay  slates 
and  the  overlying  coarser  sandstones  are  of  a  flaggy  structure 
in  some  of  the  layers,  and  from  these  were  obtained  those  fine 
flagging  stones  which  have  been  extensively  used  for  three 
years  past  for  pavements  in  the  city  of  Detroit.  Some  of 
these  strata  are  distinguished  by  ripple  marks.  No  fossils  have 
been  discovered  in  this  formation. 

These  slates  and  alternating  sandstones  may  be  considered 
as  the  upper  salt  rock  of  our  state.  They  have  been  passed 
through  in  boring  for  salt  at  Grand  Eapids,  and  found  to 
yield  strong  supplies  of  brine.  At  this  point  they  are  found 
also  to  alternate  with  beds  of  gypsum  and  gypserous  marls,  as 
will  appear  by  reference  to  the  table  of  the  strata  passed 
through,  given  on  a  subsequent  page.  The  thickness  ascer- 
tained to  these  slates,  at  that  point  is  about  170  feet. 

SOFT,  COARSE     RAINED  SANDSTONE. 

A  series  of  sandrocks  answering  to  this  description,  and 
generally  of  a  dark  color,  succeeds  to  the  clay  slates  and  shales 
last  above  described,  and  has  been  penetrated  at  the  borings  at 
Grand  Eapids  230  feet.  There  are,  as  yet,  no  data  for  ascer- 
taining the  entire  thickness  of  this  series,  since  it  does  not 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  253 

make  its  appearance  at  any  point  on  the  coast  of  the  penin- 
sula, this  rock  evidently  forming  the  bed  of  Lake  Huron  near 
its  foot,  and  lying  too  deep  for  observation.  In  relative  posi- 
tion and  perhaps  in  character,  this  rock,  or  a  portion  of  the 
series  corresponds  with  the  lower  salt  rock  of  Ohio  and  Vir- 
ginia, and  is  the  rock  from  which,  in  these  states,  the  strongest 
supplies  of  brine  are  obtained.  The  result  of  the  borings  in 
our  own  state,  thus  far,  would  seem  to  confirm  the  opinion 
that  this  rock  is  the  equivalent  of  the  lower  salt  rocks  of  those 
states. 


BLACK,  BITUMINOUS,  ALUMINOUS  SLATE. 

Underlying  the  sandstones   above   noticed,  though,  also, 
nowhere  observed  to  make  an  outcrop  within  the  portion  of 
the  state  now  under  considerate  •».  there  is  a  well  character 
ized  black  bituminous  slate.  .s  rock  makes  an  outcrop 

much  further  to  the  north,  and  is  described  by  Mr.  Douglass  in 
his  accompanying  report,  to  which  I  refer  you.  This  slate 
contains  much  sulphuret  of  iron  ;  it  will  burn  readily,  and  in 
general  character  and  position  it  agrees  with  the  black  shale 
stratum  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  but  its  thickness  is  probably  not 
nearly  so  great. 

LIMESTONES  OF  LAKE  ERIE. 

This  formation,  which  immediately  underlies  the  black 
slate,  is  by  far  the  most  continuous  and  extensive  rock  forma- 
tion in  the  western  states.  It  is  found  outcropping  in  several 
district  ranges  throughout  Monroe  county,  forms  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  lake  coast  and  serves  as  a  basis  to  the  islands 
at  the  mouth  of  Detroit  Eiver,  and  is  an  extension  of  the  rock 
formation  which  occupies  the  whole  western  part  of  Ohio  and 
the  northern  and  eastern  portions  of  Indiana.  It  is  found 
forming  the  bed  of  Lake  Michigan  at  its  head,  and  undoubt- 
edly is  the  underlying  rock  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the 


254  APPENDIX. 

extreme  south-western  part  of  our  state.      The  overlying  ter- 
tiary clays  conceal  a  great  part  of  this  formation. 

The  character  and  economical  adaption  of  these  limestones 
have  been  sufficintly  set  forth  in  former  reports,  to  which, 
accordingly,  I  refer  you  for  detailed  information. 

Among  the  fossils  contained  in  the  limerock  I  distinguish 
the  following  genera  :  Calymene  and  Asaphus,  Cyathophyl- 
lum,  Productus,  Terebratula,  Spirifer  and  Dethlyrus,  Bellero- 
phon,  Atrypa,  Strophomena,  Orthocera,  Encrinus,  Eetepora 
and  Madrepora. 

In  proceeding  southerly  from  the  outcrops  of  the  slates  of 
Lake  Huron  a  limerock  is  met  with,  which  may  be  seen  in  the 
bed  of  a  small  stream  near  the  lake  coast,  town  nine,  north, 
sixteen  east.  In  character  and  fossil  contents  it  bears  a  resem- 
blance to  that  of  Monguagon,  Monroe  county,  but  its  position 
would  seem  to  indicate  it  rather  as  an  included  stratum  in  the 
series  of  sandrocks  and  shale,  which  are  higher  in  the  geo- 
logical series. 

The  following  general  section  will  exhibit  the  order  of 
succession  and  approximate  thickness  of  the  rocks  above 
described,  lying  below  the  coal  basin,  and  is  a  continuation  of 
the  table  given  on  page  249  of  the  successive  rock  formations 
of  the  settled  portions  of  our  peninsula: 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN. 


255 


General  section,  applicable  to  all  the  rocks  below  the  coal  beds  of 
Michigan,  in  that  portion  of  the  peninsula  included  in  this  report. 


Mean 

thickness 

in  feet 


Sandstones  of 
Jackson,  Cal- 
houn  and 
Hillsdale. 


Coarse  quartzose,  grayish  sand- 
rocks. 

Fine  grained,  ash  colored  and 
dingy  green,  interstratified 
with  slaty  sandstone  and  clay 
shales. 

Yellow  sandrocks,  colored  by 
iron,  and  abounding  in  fossils 


300 


Dark  gray  and  blue  indurated  clay,  containing 
kidney  iron  (counties  of  Hillsdale,  Branch 
and  Calhoun) 45 

Coarse  sandstone,  or  partial  conglomerate, 
Yellow  and  greenish  sandstones  (coast  of  Lake 
Huron,  at  Point  aux  Barques) 250 

Slaty,  argillaceous  sandstone,  alternating  with 
sandstone  and  clay  slates, 

Blue  clay  slates  and  flays,  with  alternating  gyp- 
sum beds  and  gypseous  marls  (Lake  Huron 
coast,  below  Point  aux  Barques) 180 

Soft,  coarse  grained  sandstones  (occupies  bed  of 
Lake  Huron  at  its  foot),  exceeds ^ 230 

Black  aluminous  slate,  containing  pyrites  (coast 
of  Lake  Huron  at  Thunder  Bay) 

Gray  limerock,  fossils  abundant  (west  end  of 
Lake  Erie) 


The  rocks  in  the  above  section  embrace  all  those  which  are 
included  in  the  divisions  marked  D,  E,  F,  G,  H,  I,  and  K,  in 
the  GEOLOGICAL  SECTION  prefixed  to  this  report. 


256  APPENDIX. 

Dip  of  the  Rocks. 

Great  irregularities  of  dip  are  observable  in  all  of  our  rocks, 
which  circumstance  has  increased  the  difficulty  of  determin- 
ing the  precise  relative  position,  extent  and  thickness  of  the 
several  strata.  Many  of  the  sandstones  belonging  to  and 
immediately  underlying  the  coal,  are  much  shattered,  as  if  by 
a  quick  vibratory  motion,  and  a  similar  cause  has  occasioned 
contortions  of  dip  in  most  of  the  still  older  rocks.  I  have, 
therefore,  refrained  from  noting  the  amount  and  direction  of 
dip  at  the  various  localities  mentioned.  All  the  rocks  on  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  peninsula  south  of  Saginaw  Bay  have  a 
general  dip  north-westerly,  while  the  dip  along  the  southerly 
and  westerly  border  of  the  basin  of  the  coal  bearing  rocks  is 
such  as  to  indicate  the  counties  of  Clinton  and  Gratiot  as  occupy- 
ing nearly  the  central  part  of  the  coal  basin.  This  being  the 
case,  the  carboniferous  sandstones,  with  their  included  coal 
beds,  may  be  considered  as  extending  far  to  the  north  of  the 
Saginaw  and  Grand  Bivers,  possibly  as  far  as  town  23  north, 
or  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Maskego  and  Tittabawassee 
Eivers.  This  supposition,  the  character  of  that  region,  as  well 
as  the  dip  of  the  rocks  would  seem  to  warrant.  But  the 
country  alluded  to,  is,  at  present,  in  an  uninhabited  condition; 
the  surface,  moreover,  is  very  generally  level,  and  so  com- 
pletely overspread  by  the  deposits  of  diluviums  and  tertiary 
clays  as  totally  to  conceal  the  rock  formations.  Surveys  have, 
however,  been  extended  into  thatjregion  so  far  as  was  practic- 
able with  the  means  afforded,  and  much  valuable  information 
is  collected. 

If  I  am  correct  in  the  above  conclusion,  the  coal  bearing 
sandstones,  or,  strictly  speaking,  the  coal  basin  occupy  an 
extent  of  surface,  nearly  oval  in  form,  whose  centre  very 
nearly  corresponds  with  the  true  centre  of  the  peninsula.  The 
tract  thus  embraced  is  150  miles  in  length,  north  and  south, 
and  upwards  of  100  in  extreme  breadth  ;  covering  an  area  of 
about  11,000  square  miles,  or  one-fourth  of  the  entire  area  of 
the  lower  peninsula. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY    OF   MICHIGAN.  257 

It  may  be  added,  that  the  average  dip  of  all  the  rocks 
described,  does  not  probably  exceed  15  feet  in  the  mile  ;  though 
the  dip  may  be  said  to  vary,  at  different  points,  from  10  to  20 
feet  per  mile. 

Borings  at  the  Salt  Well,  Grand  Rapids. 

The  borings  for  salt  at  the  village  of  Grand  Eapids,  Kent 
county,  commenced  in  the  limerock  stratum  mentioned  above, 
page  244,  as  constituting  the  terminating  rock  of  the  coal  basin. 
At  this  point,  several  of  the  next  succeeding  series  of  sand- 
rocks  appear  to  have  thinned  out,  and  their  place  is  here  occu- 
pied by  alternating  strata  of  clay  slates  and  sandstones  with 
gypseous  marls  and  beds  of  gypsum.  These  continued  to  a 
depth  of  190  feet,  and  below  this  the  borings  have  been  carried 
mostly  through  series  of  sandrocks  to  the  depth  of  415  feet. 

Two  beds  of  beautiful  crystalized  gypsum  were  passed 
through  at  a  depth  of  about  60  feet,  and  were  found  to  be  from 
4  to  6  feet  in  thickness.  This  gypsum,  it  will  be  recollected, 
from  the  notice  of  it  in  former  reports,  appears  at  the  surface 
at  Gypsum  Creek,  three  miles  distant ;  showing  an  inclination 
to  the  rocks,  at  this  point,  of  about  20  feet  in  the  mile. 

By  reference  to  a  map  of  the  state,  it  will  be  apparent  that 
the  strongest  brine  springs,  (among  which  are  included  those 
in  the  vicinity  of  these  borings,)  make  their  appearance  along 
a  line  which  will  be  found  to  correspond  with  the  "synclinal 
axis,"  or  axis  of  the  dip  of  the  rocks  composing  the  great 
peninsula  basin;  a  circumstance  which  would  be  looked  for  from 
the  fact  that  the  ordinary  law  of  gravitation  would  conduct  the 
strong  brines  to  the  lowest  levels  of  the  rock  strata.  While, 
therefore,  the  depth  to  which  the  boring  must  be  carried,  in 
order  to  reach  the  lower  salt  bearing  strata,  will  be  greater 
than  would  be  the  case  in  some  other  portions  of  the  state,  the 
comparative  strength  of  the  brine  obtained  may  be  expected 
to  be  proportionably  increased. 

Through  the  politeness  of  the  Hon.  Lucius  Lyon,  I  am 
enabled  to  subjoin  a  section  of  the  strata  passed  through  at 
the  boring  above  mentioned. 

(17) 


258 


APPENDIX. 


Diagram  of  Strata  passed  through  at  salt  well  of  Hon.  L.  Lyon, 

Grand  Rapids. 


Thickness 
in  feet. 


Total  depth 
feet 


1     Hard  gray  limerock,  irregularly  stratified,  and  in 

portions  cavernous 14  14 

Yellow  Sandrock,  producing  fresh  water 6  20 

3  Blue  clay 2  22 

4  Coarse,  reddish  sandrock 5  27 

Blue  clay 3  30 

6  Clay  slate,  with  thin  layers  of  gypsum  interstrati- 

fied 11  41 

7  Clay  slate 18  59 

8  Gypsum 4  63 

9  Clay  slate 2  65 

10  Gypsum 6  71 

11  Clay  slate 3  74 

Bluish  sandrock,  very  hard,  with  sharp  grit... 3  82 

13  Bluish  clay  rock,  intermixed  with  particles  of  red- 

dish rock,  compact.     This  rock   is  strongly  im- 
pregnated with  saline  particles 18  100 

14  Sand  and  clay  rock,  alternating 7  107 

15  Carbonate  of   lime  and  gypsum   combined,   very 

compact .*.  10  117 

16  Gypsum 7  124 

17  Clay  slate 9  133 

18  Gray  sandrock  of  very  sharp  grit  and  hard 5  138 

Clay  rock 2£  140^ 

Gypsum,  with  vein  of  salt  water 6£  147 

Clay  rock.  6  153 

22     Gypsum  and  clay  slate,  or  gypseous  marls,  alternat- 
ing   19  172 

Gypsum 3  175 

24  Clay  rock 3  178 

25  Gypsum 1  179 

26  Hard  sandrock,  producing  fresh  water 1£  180J 

27  Clay  rock,  free  from  saline  matter 10|  191 

28  Hard  sandrock,  very  compact  and  of  dark  color 7  198 

Soft  sandrock,  nearly  colorless 18  216 

30  Soft  sandrock,  of  dark  blue  color 32  248 

31  Loose,  coarse  grained  sandrock,  of  reddish  color, 

opening  a  very  copious  spring  of  fresh  water 17  265 


Below  the  strata  last  noted  in  the  above  table,  the  borings 
have  continued  through  a  further  depth  of  150  feet,  but  the 
data  received  are  not  sufficiently  minute  to  enable  me  to 
extend  the  table.  From  the  information  obtained,  they 
would  seem  to  have  passed  through  mostly  soft,  light  colored 
sandrocks  of  a  coarse  grain  and  with  a  sharp  grit,  and  in  the 
lower  portions  containing  cavities  into  which  the  drill  some- 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF    MICHIGAN.  259 

times  falls  several  inches.     Particles  of  salt  were  brought  up, 
and  the  rock  yields  a  very  strong  brine. 

All  the  strata  from  the  depth  of  81  to  179  feet,  or  until  the 
sandrock  was  reached,  were  strongly  impregnated  with  saline 
particles,  and  yielded  brine  one-fifth  saturated.  These  clay 
slates  and  marls  may  be  regarded  as  the  "upper  salt  rock," 
and  they  are  thus  shown  to  furnish  a  brine  superior  in 
strength  to  that  of  many  of  the  salt  wells  of  Ohio,  and  which, 
even  could  no  stronger  brine  be  obtained,  is  capable  of  sus- 
taining a  profitable  manufacture. 

The  brine  now  obtained  at  a  depth  below  the  above  of 
about  230  feet,  may  be  supposed  to  proceed  by  veins  from  the 
"lower  salt  rock,"  lying  at  still  greater  depth,  and  from 
which  the  strongest  and  best  supplies  of  brine  in  our  State 
may  be  expected  to  be  obtained. 

The  immense  quantity  of  fresh  or  slightly  brackish  water 
which  is  discharged  through  the  orifice,  equal  to  a  hogshead 
per  minute,  in  the  present  state  of  the  operations,  renders  it 
impossible  to  decide  with  absolute  certainty  what  will  be  the 
full  strength  as  well  as  supply  of  the  strong  brine,  but  from 
that  which  can  be  obtained  it  is  estimated  that  of  the  brine 
which  the  well  is  now  capable  of  furnishing  from  fifty  to  sixty 
gallons  only  will  be  required  to  produce  a  bushel  of  salt. 
This,  it  will  be  seen,  is  equal  in  point  of  strength  to  that 
obtained  from  the  salt  wells  on  the  Kenawha  River  of  the 
Ohio,  where  the  borings  are  carried  to  about  the  same  depth, 
and  at  which  are  manufactured  annually  from  one  to  two 
millions  of  bushels  of  salt.  Next  to  those  of  the  State  of 
New  York  the  Kenawha  salt  wells  are  considered  the  best  in 
the  Union. 

In  addition  to  the  quality  of  the  brine  obtained,  the 
advantages  for  the  manufacture  of  salt  at  the  point  under 
consideration  are  not  exceeded  at  those  places  in  our  country 
where  the  manufacture  is  conducted  to  the  largest  extent. 
The  supply  of  wood  for  fuel  and  other  necessary  purposes  is 
abundant,  and  will  tend  greatly  to  reduce  the  price  for  which 
the  manufacturers  will  be  enabled  to  furnish  this  article. 


260  APPENDIX. 

And,  though  the  whole  matter  may  be  said  to  be  still  in  an 
incipient  state,  there  is  every  reason  to  feel  satisfied  with  the 
prospect  which  so  fair  a  beginning  holds  out  to  the  State,  for 
obtaining  a  result  so  very  desirable  as  that  of  supplying  her 
citizens  with  this  important  article  from  the  product  of  her 
own  manufacture. 

SUMMARY, 

• 

Comprising  General  Observations  on  the  Economical  Results  of 

the  Survey. 

From  the  view  we  have  now  taken  of  the  rock  strata  which 
compose  the  lower  half  of  the  southern  peninsula  of  Michigan, 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  geology  is  of  an  exceedingly  simple 
character,  while  it  is  at  the  same  time  richest  in  the  mineral 
wealth  most  important  to  an  agricultural  community. 

Michigan  occupies  a  portion  of  the  great  valley  of  ,the 
Mississippi — the  richest  in  the  world— and  which  is  wholly 
occupied  by  a  broad  extent  of  the  rocks  classed  by  geologists 
in  the  transition  and  secondary  formations.  Of  these  the 
great  limestone  formation  (of  which  that  of  the  west  end  of 
Lake  Erie  is  a  portion,  and  which  concluded  our  view  of  the 
several  geological  groups  which  make  up  the  organized  por- 
tion of  the  State)  occupies  the  lowest  place,  and  is  the  lowest 
and  oldest  of  the  rocks  found  on  the  lower  peninsula  of 
Michigan.  The  upper  peninsula  of  our  State,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  report  of  the  State  Geologist,  is  constituted  of  lower 
and  still  older  rocks,  and  presents  in  consequence  a  very 
different  aspect  as  well  as  a  different  mineral  character  from 
the  lower  peninsula. 

The  most  important  of  the  minerals  usually  associated 
with  the  rocks  of  those  formations  which  compose  lower  or 
Michigan  proper  are  iron  and  lead  ores,  coal,  salt,  gypsum 
and  marls.  There  are  no  indications  which  would  warrant 
the  snpposition  that  lead,  in  any  valuable  quantity,  exists  on 
the  lower  peninsula.  At  least  it  may  be  positively  assumed 
that  no  ores  of  lead  will  be  found  throughout  any  of  the 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  261 

present  organized  counties  of  the  State.  All  the  other 
minerals  mentioned  exist,  and  some  of  them,  as  has  been 
shown,  in  great  abundance.  The  results  of  the  examinations 
into  the  economical  geology  of  the  State,  as  regards  the  most 
important  of  its  minerals,  I  shall  here  briefly  recapitulate. 

IRON. — An  ore  of  this  mineral,  under  the  form  of  kidney 
iron-stone,  exists  chiefly  in  the  counties  of  Branch  and  Hills- 
dale.  It  is  sufficiently  extensive  to  be  of  much  value,  and 
will  give  an  average  yield  of  about  30  per  cent,  of  metal. 
This  ore  is  embraced  in  the  clay  formation  described  on  page 
250  of  this  report,  and  a  more  extended  notice  will  be  found 
in  the  geological  report  of  1840. 

Iron,  under  the  form  of  bog  ores,  is  found  in  various  parts 
of  the  State.  The  most  extensive  deposits,  and  those  alone 
which  it  may  be  safe  to  assert  will  yield  a  rich  profit,  are  at 
the  county  seat  of  Kalamazoo,  near  Concord,  in  Jackson 
county,  in  the  county  of  Oakland,  and  perhaps  Wayne.  No 
furnaces  for  the  reduction  of  these  ores  have  yet  been  erected. 
It  is  shown  by  the  late  census,  that  there  are  15  furnaces  in 
the  State  for  the  casting  of  pig  iron,  requiring  614  tons,  and 
the  whole  amount  of  iron  imported,  under  various  forms,  is 
much  greater.  The  cost  of  this  importation,  which  in  so 
heavy  an  article  as  iron  is  very  considerable,  might  and  ought 
to  be  saved  to  the  State  by  a  domestic  manufacture  from  our 
own  material.  For  more  detailed  observations,  and  an 
account  of  the  localities  in  which  this  ore  occurs,  see  geologi- 
cal report  of  1840. 

BITUMINOUS  COAL  will  be  found  in  abundance  for  all  the 
wants  of  the  State.  The  only  locality  where  mining  opera- 
tions have  been  commenced  is  at  Corunna,  Shiawassee  county, 
where  this  mineral  has  been  already  used  to  considerable 
extent,  and  though  in  the  midst  of  a  heavily  timbered  country 
is  for  many  purposes  preferred  to  wood  or  other  combustible. 
Other  points  also,  eligibly  situated  for  the  mining  of  coal, 
have  been  made  known  in  Ingham,  Eaton  and  Jackson  coun- 
ties, and  it  may  be  fairly  inferred  from  the  facts  already 


262  APPENDIX. 

determined  of  the  range  of  coal  bearing  rocks,  that  outcrops 
of  the  coal  beds  will  be  found  at  numerous  other  points  than 
those  now  known  in  these  counties,  and  that  coal  will  also  be 
discovered  in  several  counties  where  it  is  not  now  known  to 
exist,  as  through  parts  of  Kent,  Ionia  and  Genesee  counties. 
(See  further,  as  to  the  lower  coal  beds,  page  245  of  this  Re- 
port.) 

SALT. — There  no  longer  exists  any  doubt  that  this  mineral 
may  be  obtained  at  a  cheap  rate  and  in  any  required  quantity, 
for  supplying  the  great  and  increasing  demand  in  our  State. 
The  operations  commenced  at  the  State  salt  wells  near  Grand 
Eapids,  Kent  county,  and  on  the  Tittabawassee,  Midland 
county,  are  not  sufficiently  advanced  to  determine  the  extent 
of  the  anticipated  profit  of  the  manufacture.  The  strongest 
brine  obtained  up  to  this  time  at  the  salt  well  of  Mr.  Lyon,  at 
Grand  Eapids,  will,  without  doubt,  prove  as  productive  as 
that  of  the  best  wells  of  Ohio  and  Virginia.  So  that  the 
present  results  may  be  considered  as  certainly  indicative  of 
the  success  that  was  formerly  supposed  would  attend  the 
boring  for  salt  if  properly  conducted  within  our  State. 

Michigan  imports  salt  probably  to  the  amount  of  $300,000 
annually,  which  large  amount  of  money  might,  as  it  soon 
will,  be  saved  to  the  State,  by  the  supplies  furnished  from  her 
own  resources.  The  average  price  of  salt  at  the  ports  of 
entry  has  been  about  three  dollars  per  barrel  for  the  last  four 
years.  But  when  the  works  now  in  progress  shall  have  been 
brought  into  successful  operation,  supposing  no  stronger  brine 
to  be  obtained  than  that  above  stated,  the  article  of  salt  can 
be  furnished  at  a  much  less  price  than  it  now  costs  the 
consumer. 

GYPSUM. — An  extensive  deposit  of  this  very  valuable 
mineral  occurs  in  the  vicinity  of  Grand  Eapids.  The  bed  is 
here  very  extensive,  is  about  six  feet  in  thickness,  and  in 
quality  is  equal  to  the  best  gypsum  of  Nova  Scotia.  The 
same  mineral  is  found  elsewhere  in  our  State,  but  this  is  by 
far  the  most  important  locality  at  present  known,  and  one 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  263 

that  affords  every  facility  for  quarrying  and  distributing  the 
mineral  over  the  State.  A  mill  was  erected  during  the  past 
summer,  and  the  ground  plaster,  for  manure,  is  already 
manufactured  in  considerable  quantities. 

Though  the  above  locality  is  the  only  one  known  at  which 
gypsum  occurs,  in  the  interior  of  our  State,  yet  from  the 
ascertained  geological  character  and  dip  of  our  rocks,  and  the 
associations  of  this  mineral  it  may  be  presumed  that  gypsum 
and  its  associated  marls  will  be  hereafter  disclosed  at  other 
points  in  the  vicinity  of  the  above  bed,  and  that  it  will  be 
found  also  to  occur  at  other  localities  in  the  interior  which  are 
concealed  from  present  observation. 

SHELL  MARL  occurs  in  the  greatest  abundance  throughout 
the  State,  but  more  especially  among  the  marshes  and  lakes  of 
the  openings.  It  forms  deposits,  varying  in  extent  from  1 
acre  to  100,  and  these  are  pretty  widely  distributed.  Its 
exceeding  great  value  and  cheapness  as  a  manure  is  far  from 
being  truly  appreciated  by  our  citizens.  But  the  time  is 
rapidly  approaching  when  this  invaluable  mineral  will  be  no 
longer  despised  because  it  is  abundant,  simple  and  cheap,  and 
our  State  will  then  find  in  her  numerous  marl  beds  one  of  the 
richest  treasures  of  which  she  is  possessed.  For  a  full  account 
of  the  nature  and  uses  of  this  mineral,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  page  94  of  the  report  of  1840,  and  to  previous  reports. 

The  character,  applications  and  value  of  the  rocks  with 
which  the  above  mentioned  minerals  are  associated,  together 
with  other  matters  of  practical  interest  connected  with  the 
geological  structure  of  our  State,  are  so  fully  detailed  in  the 
preceding  pages  and  in  previous  reports,  that  further  allusion 
to  them  in  this  place  is  deemed  unnecessary. 

From  the  foregoing  facts  it  cannot  fail  to  be  seen  that 
while  the  soils  of  our  State  are  admirably  adapted  to  the 
various  purposes  of  agriculture,  and  for  the  production  of 
wheat — the  most  important  product  of  the  soil — superior  to 
those  of  any  known  portion  of  the  Union,  Michigan  possesses 


264  APPENDIX. 

also  within  herself  all  the  mineral  treasures  that  are  really 
requisite  for  sustaining  and  renovating  her  soil,  for  supplying 
the  wants  of  her  homesteads,  and  for  maintaining  those 
branches  of  domestic  industry  which  are  of  the  most  importance 
to  her  people.  Thus  science  discloses  those  treasures  buried  in 
the  earth  which  art  and  industry  may  appropriate  to  increase 
the  profits  of  labor.  And  though  the  objects  of  science  are 
general  in  their  nature,  and  not  confined  by  the  limits  of 
districts  or  states,  the  legislator  feels  a  peculiar  interest  in 
having  those  resources  developed  by  its  aid,  which  may  be 
turned  to  the  advantage  of  his  rising  commonwealth;  com- 
merce, agriculture  and  the  arts  receive  a  stimulus  by  the  new 
sources  of  wealth  and  supply  which  it  opens  to  the  wants  of 
each.  In  this  view  the  study  of  geology  becomes  one  of  the 
most  universally  useful  that  can  occupy  the  attention  of 
practical  men. 

In  comparing  the  extent  of  our  resources  thus  obtained 
with  the  little  that  was  known  concerning  them  a  few  years 
ago,  we  have  reason  to  feel  satisfied  with  the  prospect  of  future 
wealth  and  importance  which  it  has  opened  to  us.  If  during 
the  stirring  times  of  an  early  settlement  so  rapid  as  has  been 
that  of  our  State  for  the  past  five  years,  less  interest  was 
excite^  by  the  development  of  our  mineral  resources  than  their 
importance  might  demand,  a  satisfactory  cause  may  be  found 
in  the  imperfect  state  of  the  knowledge  hithereto  obtained, 
and  in  the  pressure  of  the  more  immediate  wants  of  a  new, 
somewhat  fluctuating  and  unsettled  community.  During  the 
period  mentioned,  however,  the  population  of  southern 
Michigan  has  advanced  from  a  less  number  probably  than 
60,000  to  212,000,  a  rate  of  increase  unexampled  even  in  the 
annals  of  a  series  of  settlements,  to  the  progress  of  which  the 
world  affords  no  parallel.  Meanwhile  the  liberal  course  of 
our  State  policy  has  been  steadily  unfolding  her  resources, 
and  at  this  moment,  notwithstanding  the  burden  of  a  heavy 
debt,  and  the  accumulated  pressure  of  more  widely  felt 
financial  difficulties,  we  are  rapidly  advancing  in  wealth,  and 
are  becoming  awakened  to  the  means  of  which  we  find  our- 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  265 

selves  possessed  for  successfully  competing  with  older  States, 
in  the  departments  of  agriculture,  commerce  and  manu- 
factures. With  lands  among  the  richest  in  the  world,  well 
watered  and  advantageously  situated  for  market,  with  water 
power  abundant,  and  with  an  extent  of  coast  and  facilities 
for  water  transportation  unequalled  by  any  other  inland  State, 
and  added  to  this  a  population  possessed  of  a  large  share  of 
that  character  for  enterprise  which  distinguishes  their  coun- 
trymen, nothing  will  tend  more  to  give  full  efficacy  and  per- 
manency to  these  advantages  than  to  make  more  perfectly 
known  the  value  of  our  mineral  resources.  Our  State  is  now 
sufficiently  advanced  to  be  able  to  avail  herself  properly  and 
with  certainty  of  the  advantages  alluded  to,  and  there  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  these  will  not  longer  fail  to  command 
attention,  and  that  the  results  will  equal  the  most  sanguine 
anticipations. 

BELA  HUBBAED, 

Assistant  Geologist. 


No.  4 — Report  of  S.  W.  Higgins,  topographer  of  geologi- 
cal survey,  Jan.  24,  1841,  states  that  the  topographer  has  in 
his  present  report  brought  together  such  observations  relating 
to  the  magnetic  variation  in  this  State  as  will,  he  trusts, 

assist  hereafter  in  affixing  data  to  important  facts: 

• 

The  general  law  regulating  the  forces  of  magnetism  with 
its  direction  and  intensity  has  been  untiringly  studied,  until 
by  certain  tests  it  has  at  last  been  discovered  that  palpable 
effects  are  produced  by  the  magnet  on  all  substances  whether 
organic  or  inorganic,  and  there  seem  to  be  only  two  ways  of 
accounting  for  the  phenomena:  "either  that  all  substances  in 
nature  are  susceptible  of  magnetism,  or  all  possess  particles 
of  iron  or  some  other  magnetic  metal  from  which  this 
property  is  derived.'7 


266  APPENDIX. 

The  obvious  perturbations  of  the  needle  as  seen  in  all 
situations  at  times  arise  from  many  small  causes  combined, 
and  which,  so  far  as  they  exert  their  force,  influence  the 
greater  power  of  terrestrial  magnetism,  whereby  it  becomes 
proportionably  feeble,  as  these  combinations  are  multiplied. 
Atmospheric  changes  operate  still  further  and  in  a  more 
sudden  manner  to  affect  the  needle,  but  the  first  causes  men- 
tioned are  the  most  perplexing,  and  surveyors  have  attributed 
to  local  causes  that  which  is  found  to  be  inherent  in  all  sub- 
stances. 

The  following  single  experiment  will  evince  how  far  local 
causes  are  concerned  in  general.  If  a  small  needle  be  con- 
structed of  any  substance  and  suspended  between  two  magnets 
it  will  be  found  to  fix  itself  in  a  line  in  the  direction  of  the 
poles  of  the  magnets,  and  the  number  of  oscillations  in  a 
given  time  will  usually  determine  in  different  needles  the 
quantity  of  matter  susceptible  of  magnetism  in  each;  thus  an 
.important  discovery  has  been  made  by  means  of  this  active 
principle,  whereby  is  detected  the  least  insensible  traces  of 
iron,  when  all  other  tests  have  failed.* 

The  opinion  then  is  an  erroneous  one  that  mineral  must 
always  be  present  in  masses  to  cause  the  aberrations  of  the 
needle.  This  is  not  necessary,  nor  is  it  the  fact,  for  those 
minerals  which  are  deeply  buried  can  have  no  influence,  inas- 
much as  their  influence  decreases  inversely  as  the  squares  of 
the  distance,  and  it  may  be  said  that  the  needle  is  wholly 
indeterminate  in  their  neighborhood  in  respect  to  them,  *  'since 
the  resultant  of  magnetic  forces  being  then  vertical,"  or 
nearly  so,  or  nothing,  "the  horizontal  element  would  be 
nothing." 

If  it  is  true,  as  has  already  been  abundantly  proved,  that 
magnetism,  electricity  and  gravitation  are  governed  by  the 
same  laws,  and  that  they  decrease  in  the  ratio  of  the  squares 
of  their  distances  from  attracting  bodies,  it  becomes  difficult 
to  define  what  is  meant  by  " local  attraction,"  in  the  common 


"Professor  Farrer. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  267 

acceptation  of  the  term,  unless  it  be  granted  that  the  regions 
where  it  has  been  met  with  so  commonly  abound  in  ores  or 
metallic  substances  to  a  great  extent,  or  that  it  has  been  the 
misfortune  of  the  surveyor  to  come  so  nearly  in  contact  with 
mineral  masses,  above  or  near  the  surface  of  the  earth,  as  to 
occasion  the  utter  temporary  loss  of  the  polarity  of  the 
needle. 

It  may  be  laid  down  as  a  rule  applicable  hereafter  in 
explanation  of  most  of  the  deviations  of  the  needle  which 
occur  in  the  central  and  western  portions  of  the  State  (there 
being  but  few  rocks  in  situ  that  appear  on  the  surface,  and 
those  lime,  slate  and  sand  rock,  and  the  geological  structure 
of  the  peninsula  being  such  as  to  preclude  all  opinion  of  there 
being  ores  or  metals,  or  any  kind  of  minerals,  except  bitumi- 
nous coal,  marl  and  the  like,  further  than  what  is  found  in  all 
alluvial  and  mountainless  countries  and  there  being  an  utter 
impossibility  of  any  masses  other  than  what  may  be  eratic, 
capable  of  producing  any  great  effect),  that  as  the  direction 
of  the  needle  is  the  effect  of  a  principal  terrestrial  force,  its 
deviations  arise  only  from  those  smaller  secondary  forces 
which  we  have  said  are  inherent  in  all  substances. 

Many  facts  might  be  adduced  in  verification  of  the  above 
supposition  from  the  thousands  of  observations  which  have 
been  made  during  the  course  of  the  surveys  of  the  public 
lands  in  the  State.  Entire  lines  have  been  measured  from 
the  southern  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  peninsula  across 
its  whole  breadth  on  true  meridians,  and  these  lines  have 
again  been  intersected  by  others  running  east  and  west  at 
right  angles,  each  line  having  the  magnetic  variation  recorded 
at  intervals  of  every  six  miles,  the  points  of  intersection. 
Within  the  limits  of  these  lines  is  included  the  whole  area  of 
the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan  (and  by  an  exact  enumera- 
tion of  the  meanders  of  the  coast  in  the  intervals  between  the 
terminations  of  these  lines  is  obtained  with  the  greatest 
accuracy  the  number  of  square  miles  it  contains),  now  from 
the  collected  observations,  after  rejecting  those  east  of  the 
principal  meridian,  mentioned  in  my  report  of  last  year  as 


268  APPENDIX. 

erroneous — and  a  few  others  that  might  be  specified  which  are 
made  to  correspond  to  the  measurement  of  fractional  lines — 
an  area  of  41,304  square  miles  is  laid  out  with  the  accuracy  of 
a  map,  and  the  magnetic  meridians  traced  with  the  same 
facility  as  any  other  known  and  prominent  feature;  in  fact  we 
have  a  magnetic  chart  indicating  the  declination  of  the 
needle  over  this  extensive  region  on  parallels  of  equal  dis- 
tances of  six  miles. 

Let  us  pause  here  a  moment  to  satisfy  the  inquirer  who 
may  have  doubted  even  the  ordinary  correctness  of  the  obser- 
vations generally  obtained  by  the  men  whose  duty  it  has  been 
to  establish  the  standard  and  other  exterior  lines  in  the  survey 
of  our  State.  To  this  end  the  two  examples  mentioned  in 
another  part  of  this  report  will  be  sufficient,  though,  as  I  have 
stated,  others  might  with  equal  propriety  be  adduced.  One 
of  the  examples  consists  of  forty -nine  townships,  and  the 
otker  of  fifty  townships. 

These  examples  are  all  verified  by  actual  measurement, 
and  as  it  was  to  be  expected,  one  of  them  falls  a  little  short 
and  the  other  has  an  excess,  only  of  five  links  in  a  mile, 
above  the  convergence  which  all  meridian  lines  have  when 
run  north.  Now,  if  an  error,  the  gross  of  which  should 
amount  to  15',  had  been  made  in  their  observations,  the  result 
would  be  a  departure  from  parallelism  in  the  lines  of  thirty - 
five  links  to  a  mile,  whereas  the  result  exhibits  an  error  of 
less  than  2'  to  a  mile. 

Now,  it  is  obvious  from  the  foregoing  that  there  must  be 
one  of  two  conditions,  which  have  given  precision  to  the 
examples  we  have  adduced;  either  the  magnetic  parallels 
have  become  greatly  diminished  in  intensity  and  accommo- 
dated themselves  to  the  plane  of  astronomical  longitude,  or 
care  and  skill  have  been  exercised  to  modify  the  effects  pro- 
duced by  them. 

The  latter  condition  is  the  true  one,  as  we  shall  shortly 
demonstrate.  We  begin,  then,  at  a  point  where  the  line  of 
no  variation  passes  oat  of  Lake  Huron,  and  first  touches  the 
south  side  of  Drummond  Island.  This  island  is  one  of  the 


FIRST   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF   MICHIGAN.  269 

northwesternmost  of  the  chain  of  the  Manitous,  which  divide 
the  waters  of  the  Straits  of  Ste.  Marie.  It  first  touches  the 
island  near  the  meander  post  on  the  shore,  between  ranges  7 
and  8  east,  in  township  41  north,  and  is  the  tangent  point  to  a 
curve  of  4 2  miles  radius  which  it  then  makes  on  the  island, 
the  western  extremity  of  the  curve  touching  again  the  south 
shore  of  the  island  in  the  middle  of  the  next  township,  in 
range  6  east,  whence  a  reversed  curve  of  3}  miles  radius 
approaches  closely  to  the  corners  and  one-fifth  of  a  mile  south 
of  fractional  township  41  and  42,  ranges  5  and  6  east,  thence 
on  a  course  south  85°  west,  6  miles,  intersecting  township 
line  41  between  ranges  4  and  5,  near  the  meander  post  south 
shore  of  the  island,  which  is  another  tangent  point  to  a  curve 
whose  radius  is  31  miles.  Along  this  curve,  at  the  distance  of 
one  mile,  is  the  western  end  of  the  island,  and  at  the  meander 
post  for  fractional  township  41  and  42,  range  4  east;  thence 
crossing  the  channel  to  the  opposite  side  nearly,  the  curve 
terminates  between  Round  Island  and  the  main  land  of  the 
upper  peninsula,  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  shore;  thence 
another  reverse  curve  of  2£  miles  radius  just  sweeps  along  the 
edge  of  the  shore  northward  of  Pointe  de  Tour,  the  western 
termination  of  the  curve  being  in  a  lake  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  township  42  north,  range  3  east;  thence  again  the 
curve  is  reversed,  whose  radius  is  2£  miles,  crossing  the  south 
boundary  of  the  same  township  If  miles  from  its  wes!ern 
boundary;  whence  the  curve  is  again  reversed,  with  a  radius 
of  2:1  miles,  passing  off  the  coast  into  Lake  Huron  again, 
passing  over  one  of  the  small  islands  near  Massacre  Island; 
thence  ascending,  it  re-crosses  the  south  boundary  of  township 
41  north,  in  range  2  east,  between  sections  33  and  34;  thence 
curving  north-westerly  with  a  radius  of  61  miles  it  crosses 
the  town  line  between  ranges  one  and  two  east,  11  miles  from 
south  boundary;  still  slightly  curving  northwardly,  on  a  course 
of  12  miles,  it  crosses  north  boundary  line  of  township  43, 
range  1  east;  thence  two  miles  it  intersects  Monusco  Bay,  and 
curving  westerly  leaves  the  water  and  crosses  the  south- 
east corner  of  town  45,  range  1  east,  J  of  a  mile  from  corner 


270  APPENDIX. 

post,  into  town  45,  range  2  east;  thence  curving  with  a  radius 
of  62  miles,  enters  at  the  mouth  of  the  Miscota  Sawgee  Kiver 
the  Canoe  Channel  of  the  Straits  of  Ste.  Marie,  and  crosses  it 
about  one  mile  above  the  Nebish  Eapids  in  that  channel, 
touching  the  most  westerly  point  of  Great  Sailor's  Encamp- 
ment Island,  and  keeping  the  western  and  northern  shore 
with  a  curve  whose  radius  is  8  miles;  here  its  course  is  again 
reversed,  and  beyond  this  we  have  no  sufficient  data  to  pursue 
it  farther. 

It  is  believed,  however,  to  pass  directly  on  to  the  south- 
west point  of  Sugar  Island,  keeping  along  its  westerly  side, 
and  crossing  again  kthe  Straits  of  Ste.  Marie  on  to  the  main 
land,  at  the  forks  of  the  Montreal  Channel  and  Great  Hay 
Lake,  five  miles  east  of  the  Saut  de  Ste.  Marie;  thence  irregu- 
larly over  the  granite  formations,  and  in  conformity  to  the 
littoral  features  of  Goulais  and  Batcheewauanung  Bays, 
touching  Michipicoten  Harbor;  thence,  leaving  the  eastern 
end  of  Lake  Superior,  it  has  been  said  that  it  becomes  forked, 
taking  the  circumference  of  Hudson's  Bay,  or  that  the  varia- 
tion is  the  same  on  the  eastern  and  western  sides  of  the  bay. 

We  have  now  followed  it  from  Drummond  to  Sugar  Island 
through  its  actual  and  determined  course,  leaving  nothing  to 
conjecture;  and  we  remark  that  for  that  distance  it  is  as  well 
determined  as  any  other  ascertained  line.* 

This  line,  before  touching  Drummond  Island,  where  we 
first  commenced  with  it,  may  with  almost  equal  certainty  be 
traced  down  along  its  southern  course  in  and  to  the  foot  of 
Lake  Huron,  although  for  the  reason  that  it  is  confined  to  the 
lake  we  may  not  always  ascertain  its  distance  from  the  shore. 

The  course  it  would  now  take  in  the  diminished  part  of 
the  lake,  approaching  the  Straits  of  Mackinac  would  be 
somewhat  analagous,  it  is  presumed,  to  that  in  the  Straits  of 
Ste.  Marie.  This  fact  is  proved  from  observation,  first  on  the 
Island  of  Mackinac  on  the  west,  and  along  the  north-east  and 
east  shore  of  the  peninsula  south  of  and  opposite  Drummond 
Island.  It  makes  a  large  curve,  which  approaches  the  end  of 


*The  hour  should  be  noted  as  10  o'clock  a.  m.  for  observations  on  this  line. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF    MICHIGAN.  271 

the  lake,  without  touching  Mackinac,  and  receding  from  it 
descends  south-easterly  to  the  termination  on  the  coast,  of 
the  town  line  between  ranges  4  and  5  east,  in  town  36 
north,  where  the  variation  is  1°  55'  east.  The  same  variation 
is  found  at  the  termination  of  town  line  34  north,  ranges  6 
and  7  east;  thence  east  eight  miles,  at  Presque  Isle,  it  is 
imperceptible.  On  Thunder  Bay  Point  it  is  45'  east,  the  line 
of  no  variation  passing  between  the  light-house  on  the  outer- 
most Thunder  Bay  island,  four  miles  from  the  shore,  and  this 
point;  its  course  thence  is  to  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  near  Fort 
Gratiot,  where  it  crosses  into  Upper  Canada.. 

From  the  fact  that  the  line  of  no  variation  passes  through 
a  part  of  our  State,  we  are  in  some  measure  better  able  to 
determine  the  rationale  of  another  system  of  curves  found 
elsewhere  on  the  peninsula,  particularly  on  its  western  side, 
at  the  Great  and  Little  Pointe  aux  Sable,  where  a  greater 
intensity  is  observable  on  approaching  Lake  Michigan  from 
the  east. 

Under  the  ordinary  ideas  of  magnetism  it  would  not  have 
been  believed  that  a  line  so  curved  as  we  have  described 
could  have  existed,  without  ascribing  its  irregularity  to  some 
corresponding  cause  of  local  force. 

Although  the  upper  peninsula  of  Michigan  differs  from 
the  lower  in  regard  to  its  geological  features,  the  conclusion 
might  be  drawn  that  at  the  line  of  junction  of  the  rocks  of  the 
Riviere  Ste.  Marie,  as  described  in  your  third  annual  report, 
where  it  is  well  defined  as  at  and  through  the  outlet  of  the 
lake,  the  magnetic  lines  would  be  deflected  somewhat  with 
the  line  of  bearing  of  these  rocks  in  a  distance  of  thirty 
miles,  but  its  course  on  the  contrary  appears  to  be  indepen- 
dent of  them,  crossing  them  at  right  angles,  and  without 
regard  to  their  character. 

Another  peculiarity  is  that  corresponding  curves  exterior 
to  the  line  of  no  variation  on  either  side  bear  no  comparison. 
At  the  head  of  Great  Sailor's  Encampment  Island,  at  the 
distance  of  two  miles  west,  the  variation  is  1°  10'  east;  and 
opposite  the  middle  of  the  same  island,  at  one  mile  east  of  the 


272  APPENDIX. 

line,  it  is  40'  west;  at  five  miles,  1°  west,  and  at  six  miles,  1° 
10'  west;  one  mile  south  of  Monusco  Bay,  the  distance  of  one 
and  a  quarter  miles  east  of  it,  the  variation  is  1°  west;  five 
miles  west,  2°  35'  east  only,  and  the  curve  mentioned  as  again 
entering  the  lake  between  towns  2  and  3,  as  well  as  the  curve 
which  passes  around  the  edge  of  the  shore  above  Pointe  de 
Tour,  have  no  variation  at  their  centres,  but  on  approaching 
either  way,  east  or  west,  variation  increases  to  30',  and  then 
again  decreases  to  0,  on  touching  the  line  of  the  curve. 

The  same  peculiarities  are  observed  on  the  western  side  of 
the  lower  peninsula,  particularly  at  Great  and  Little  Pointe 
aux  Sable,  where  the  intensity  increases,  and  the  curves, 
though  larger,  exhibit  as  little  conformity.  It  is  evident  that 
the  needle  "  hauls  to  the  land/7  to  use  a  nautical  phrase,  for 
at  these  points  the  increase  of  variation  amounts  to  3°  in 
thirty  miles,  exceeding  6°  at  the  points,  while  the  increase  is 
but  1°  for  the  whole  breadth  of  Lake  Michigan,  the  variation 
being  but  7°  in  Wisconsin  on  the  opposite  shore. 

The  instrument  used  in  ascertaining  the  particulars  we 
have  been  stating,  is  one  totally  different  in  its  principles  and 
construction  from  the  common  compass,  and  is  not  even 
dependent  for  its  accuracy  on  the  needle.  It  was  invented  by 
Judge  Burt,  of  Macomb  county,  and  the  Messrs  Burt  have 
given  me  the  results  of  observations  made  by  them  with  this 
instrument  during  most  of  the  last  summer.  The  needle  is 
used  with  this  compass  only  when  the  sun  is  obscured  by 
clouds;  when  the  sun  shines  the  needle  is  screwed  fast,  and 
the  time  then  consumed  in  obtaining  the  true  meridian  is  not 
longer  than  that  ordinarily  taken  by  a  needle  to  settle,  while 
it  is  infinitely  more  correct. 

I  had  intended  to  have  given  a  description  of  this  valuable 
invention,  but  to  do  this  clearly  without  an  accompanying 
drawing  was  found  impracticable.  It  is  called  the  "  solar 
compass,'7  and  consists  chiefly  of  three  arcs,  one  of  which  is 
graduated  to  the  ecliptic,  the  other  to  the  complement  of 
latitude,  and  the  third  to  the  sun's  declination,  whereby,  if 
the  latitude  be  known,  the  others  are  known,  viz.,  the  sun's 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF    MICHIGAN.  273 

declination  and  the  apparent  time,  and  consequently  the 
magnetic  variation;  or  if  the  sun's  declination  only  be  known, 
then  the  latitude  and  the  others  are  known;  or  if  the  time  be 
known  the  others  can  be  ascertained  by  an  almost  instant 
adjustment. 

We  have  not  only  now  been  enabled  to  adduce  facts  con- 
firmatory of  the  general  principles  of  terrestrial  magnetism, 
but  to  enter  considerably  into  detail  on  the  subject  of  mag- 
netic variation.  A  variety  of  reasons  seemed  to  require  this, 
the  principal  of  which  was  the  definite  course  obtained  of  the 
line  of  no  variation,  and  the  consequent  illustration  of  other 
lines  on  either  side  of  it  being  also  irregular,  demonstrating  a 
system  of  curves,  and  a  series  of  distinct  and  separate  centres 
of  attraction.  This  has  been  effected  over  no  very  limited 
space,  and  is  free  from  all  that  might  be  considered  empirical. 

It  is  believed  that  in  accuracy  and  fullness  of  detail  these 
observations  exceed  all  that  has  been  hitherto  attained,  nor 
am  I  aware  that  the  line  of  no  variation  was  ever  before 
traced  continuously  for  any  great  distance,  or  that  other 
observations  have  been  taken  than  at  those  points  where  it 
has  been  crossed  by  the  surveyor  or  mariner. 

It  has  been  pretty  well  determined  by  Professor  Loomis,  of 
Western  Eeserve  College,  Ohio,  that  the  "present  annual 
changes  of  variation,  caused  by  the  retrograde  motion  of  the 
needle,  which  commenced  everywhere  as  early  as  1819,  and  in 
some  places  as  early  as  1793,  is  about  2'  for  the  southern 
States,  4'  for  the  middle  and  western  States,  and  6' for  the  New 
England  States."  This  is  true  in  general  of  the  magnetic 
lines  in  this  State  where  they  are  at  a  distance  from  the  line 
of  no  variation,  as  at  Detroit.  Here  the  decrease  or  amount 
of  retrograde  motion  is  4^'  annually;  the  line  of  no  variation 
has  been  quite  stationary,  at  least  for  the  last  eight  years,  at 
points  where  it  was  known  at  that  period.  While,  therefore, 
we  observe  a  greater  intensity  as  we  approach  nearer  to  the 
line  of  no  variation,  we  likewise  observe  the  distance  to 
increase  between  the  lines  of  equal  variation,  and  while  the 
first  is  stationary  the  latter  is  retrograding. 
(18) 


274  APPENDIX. 

While  the  parallelism  which  takes  place  in  needles  proves 
that  the  magnetic  force  of  the  terrestrial  globe  may,  like  that 
of  gravitation,  act  in  parallel  lines,  we  see  also  an  exception. 
The  lines  of  gravitation  are  always  perpendicular  to  the 
surface  of  the  sphere,  while  the  lines  of  magnetism,  which 
like  gravitation,  never  cross  each  other,  are  composed  of  every 
variety  of  curve. 

Though  the  diffusion  of  magnetism  be  general  it  is  by  no 
means  equal.  It  is  found  at  the  equator  and  at  the  poles,  an 
interposed  space  equal  to  the  earth's  radii,  and  for  this  space 
no  loss  is  apparently  felt  in  its  force,  and  it  is  not  more 
difficult  to  conceive  an  exerting  force  through  this  or  a  greater 
interposed  space  than  that  the  hand  should  communicate 
motion  to  a  stone  with  which  it  is  demonstrably  not  in 
contact. 

If  then  magnetism  be  a  real  power,  at  what  distance  does 
it  terminate  ?  Can  we  give  it  an  inferior  level,  and  determine 
its  final  bounds,  connected  with  solar  light  and  heat  *  Does 
it  not  emanate  from,  and  is  it  not  governed  by  that  great 
central  source,  the  sun,  which  controls  the  more  palpable  and 
grosser  materials  of  which  the  planetary  system  is  composed, 
which  effects  every  change  either  in  the  interior  or  exterior 
of  this  globe,  and  to  which  every  element  is  subject,  and  by 
which  are  conducted  in  silent  processes  all  changes  and  revo- 
lutions since  time  began  ? 

ELEVATION  AND  DEPRESSION  OF  THE  WATER  IN  THE 
GREAT  LAKES. — The  last  year  is  the  second  since  the  unusual 
elevation  of  the  waters  of  the  lakes;  since  which  time  there 
has  been  yearly  a  remarkable  coincidence  in  the  ratio  of  their 
subsidence,  the  more  unlooked  for,  when  taken  in  connection 
with  the  causes  which  tend  to  equalize  the  amount  of  falling 
water,  in  the  form  of  rain,  snow,  and  dew,  with  the  constant 
action  of  evaporation. 

In  bodies  of  water  like  these  lakes,  slight  changes  in  the 
seasons  produce  visible  effects,  in  as  much  as  they  have  no 
equalizing  under- currents. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  275 

The  quantity  of  rain  must  have  been  much  less,  and  the 
evaporation  more,  than  for  many  years  past,  to  have  produced 
the  decrease  mentioned  below.  This  decrease  amounts  in  the 
first  year  to  one-quarter  of  the  total  rise,  and  in  the  second  to 
one-half,  making  the  proportion  each  year  as  thirty-three  to 
forty -four  nearly. 

The  maximum  of  August,  1838,  was  five  feet  three  inches 
above  that  of  1819;  that  of  1839,  three  feet  eleven  inches;  and 
that  of  1840,  two  feet  seven  and  one-half  inches.  The  ratio 
of  decrease,  therefore,  between  the  highest  water  in  1838  and 
1839,  is  one  foot  fcur  inches;  and  between  the  highest  water 
in  1839  and  1840,  one  foot  three  and  one-half  inches. 

Its  rate  of  decrease  is  much  more  rapid  than  that  of  its  in- 
crease from  1819  to  1838.  In  1830  it  was  only  two  feet  above 
the  level  of  1819;  in  1836,  three  feet  eight  inches;  having  risen 
one  foot  eight  inches  in  six  years.  In  1837,  it  was  four  feet 
three  inches;  increase,  seven  inches;  in  June,  1838,  five  feet; 
increase,  nine  inches;  and,  in  August  of  the  same  year,  five 
feet  three  inches.  Having  been  nineteen  years  in  attaining 
the  maximum  of  five  feet  three  inches,  and  only  two  years  in 
reducing  that  height  one-half,  or  to  the  average  year  of  1833. 
Thus  the  rapidity  of  its  decrease  in  two  years,  equals  the 
increase  of  five  years. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  whether  the  decrease  of 
former  years  was  thus  sudden,  or  whether  the  period  of  the 
minimum,  or  lowest  stage  of  water,  continues  for  any  great 
length  of  time;  it  is  quite  probable,  however,  that  it  does,  and 
that  the  overflowing  of  the  lands  caused  by  the  maximum  rise, 
is  but  temporary,  and  only  for  one  year,  whence  immediately 
commencing  its  decrease,  it  arrives  very  soon  at  its  former 
standard,  and  remains  there  with  little  variation.  Indeed,  this 
is  the  more  probable,  from  the  example  of  the  last  three  years, 
and  from  the  appearance  of  long  and  undisturbed  processes  in 
the  growth  of  trees  and  vegetation,  with  the  formation  of  per- 
manent channels  in  the  interim,  as  well  as  the  security  felt  by 
those  who  have  erected  buildings  and  planted  orchards  for- 
merly, upon  those  lands  which  were  inundated. 


276  APPENDIX. 

The  diminution  in  a  given  quantity  of  water,  exceeds  by 
evaporation,  all  the  supplies  which  it  receives  from  rain,  that 
is,  the  average  amount  of  falling  water  is  equal  per  year  to 
33  inches;  evaporation  will  reduce  it  to  44  inches,  when  fully 
exposed  to  the  sun  and  air.  One  season  of  extreme  drouth 
would,  upon  the  expanse  of  these  lakes,  produce  an  extreme 
depression,  while  the  contrary  would  have  the  effect  of  pro 
ducing  a  corresponding  rise.  It  cannot  be  a  matter  of  ,so  much 
astonishment  that  such  expanded  areas  of  water,  subject  to 
such  influences,  should  be  greatly  affected;  the  wonder  is,  that 
they  do  not  oftener  present  greater  fluctuations  than  they  do, 
the  equal  and  almost  unvarying  stage  at  which  we  find  them 
is  due  to  the  uniformity  of  the  seasons,  and  the  systematic 
order  in  which  nature  is  conducted  in  all  her  works. 

The  semi-annual  alternations  observable  in  summer  and 
winter,  arise  from  other  and  well  known  causes.  In  summer, 
the  supply  is  unchecked,  and  the  consequence  is,  an  increase  to 
the  height  of  30  inches,  or  thereabouts;  when  in  winter,  these 
supplies  are  again  checked,  a  consequent  depression  follows. 
Measurements  to  ascertain  exactly  these  semi-annual  fluctua- 
tions, have  never  been  thought  necessary.  Besides,  it  is  not 
uncommon  for  ice,  in  large  bodies,  to  collect  at  the  outlets  of 
the  lakes,  and,  for  the  time,  prevent  the  usual  discharge,  and  a 
lower  stage  of  water  is  the  consequence,  than  otherwise  would 
be.  When  this  occurs  in  the  chain  of  lakes,  as  it  frequently 
does  at  the  outlet  of  Lake  Huron,  in  connection  with  a  west 
wind,  as  in  1824  and  1831,  it  diminished  the  depth  of  the 
Detroit  river,  opposite  the  city,  to  over  ten  feet,  widening  the 
beach  more  than  twenty  rods,  and  making  it  practicable,  (except 
in  the  immediate  channel,)  to  cross  without  danger,  on  foot, 
from  the  American  side,  to  Isle  au  Cochons  or  Hog  Island; 
and  a  further  proportional  decrease  took  place  in  Lakes  Erie 
and  Ontario,  while  the  pent  up  water  flowed  back  into  Lakes 
Huron  and  Michigan.  For  these  reasons,  and  the  want  of 
uniformity  in  the  temperature  of  the  winter  months,  the  min- 
imum height  is  not  to  be  depended  upon. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF   MICHIGAN.  277 

Besides  all  this,  the  effect  of  winds  sometimes  acts  in  favor, 
as  well  as  against,  the  other  irregularities.  The  geographical 
position  of  the  lakes  is  such,  that,  allowing  them  to  prevail 
from  the  same  point,  at  the  same  time  over  them  all,  (which 
is,  by  no  means,  always  the  case,)  they  produce  a  variety  of 
results.  A  west  wind  forces  the  water ,  of  Lake  Erie  into 
the  Niagara  Eiver,  at  the  same  time  the  waters  from  the  foot 
of  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan  are  forced  into  the  Straits  of 
Mackinac,  and  these  again  are  met  by  the  waters  of  Lake 
Superior  through  the  Straits  of  Ste.  Marie.  Hence  the  straits 
which  connect  Lakes  Huron  and  Erie  have  all  the  indications 
of  a  tide,  though  irregular  as  to  time  as  well  as  to  the  amount 
of  its  elevation  and  depression,  and  it  has  often  both  risen  and 
fallen  in  about  the  same  proportion,  and  sometimes  in  the 
same  period,  as  the  lunar  tides  in  those  rivers  which  empty 
into  the  ocean.  But  whenever  these  tides  take  place  either  in 
the  lakes  themselves  or  in  the  straits  connecting  them,  they 
are  fortuitous  and  are  the  results  of  accidental  disorder,  com 
inon  throughout  the  lake  region. 

Another  feature  may  be  observed  of  the  lakes,  different  in 
nothing  from  the  ground  swell  of  the  ocean — the  reaction  of 
the  water — after  having  been  pressed  by  the  wind  for  a  few 
days  or  hours  in  one  direction. 

The  most  favorable  points  for  noticing  this  reaction  is  at 
an  inlet  or  bay;  Lake  Superior  which  has  the  largest  surface, 
presents  the  most  marked  traits.  Here,  while  the  explora- 
tions by  the  geological  corps  were  in  progress  the  past  season 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Grand  Marais  Eiver,  which  empties  into 
a  bay  one  mile  wide  and  two  miles  long,  having  an  outlet  of 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  into  the  lake,  was  observed  the 
returning  waters  from  the  west,  in  wide  undulations.  The 
effect  upon  the  smooth  surface  of  the  bay  was  a  gentle  eleva- 
tion, which  arose  to  one  foot  or  more  for  a  period  of  fifteen 
minutes,  then  subsiding,  again  returned  at  equal  intervals  of 
time,  until  the  lake,  after  a  lapse  of  a  few  hours,  resumed  its 
natural  level. 


278 


APPENDIX. 


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FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  279 

January  5,  1842,  the  State  Geologist  sent  to  the  legislature 
a  report  relative  to  the  State  salt  springs  (six  pages). 

In  this  he  states  that  the  work  which  for  more  than  eigh- 
teen months  had  been  arrested  had  been  again  commenced, 
and  up  to  a  very  recent  day  has  been  continued  according  to 
the  provisions  of  the  contracts;  that  it  will  be  indispensable 
to  continue  the  borings  until  the  shafts  shall  have  passed  very 
nearly  through  the  lower  salt  rocks,  before  brine  of  the 
maximum  strength  can  be  looked  for.  At  the  point  selected 
for  the  State  well,  on  Grand  Eiver,  it  is  estimated  that  the 
shaft  should  be  sunk  to  the  depth  of  700  feet,  and  at  Titteba- 
wasse  Eiver  to  a  depth  in  round  numbers  of  600  feet. 

That  at  the  State  salt  springs  on  Grand  Eiver  the  upper 
salt  rock  had  been  perforated,  followed  by  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  salt  water,  but  that  no  attempt  had  yet  been  made  to 
separate  the  salt  water  from  admixture  of  fresh.  That  at  300 
feet  the  amount  of  salt  water  flowing  from  the  nine  inch  tube 
was  by  actual  measurement  found  to  be  130  gallons  per  minute, 
an  amount  almost  incredibly  large,  and  unequalled  by  any  rock 
boring  in  any  other  portion  of  the  United  States.  Analysis 
of  this  mixed  water  shows  that  110£  gallons  contains  a  bushel 
of  salt.  These  facts  sustain  the  original  position  assumed 
relative  to  the  salt  deposits  of  our  State. 

After  comparing  the  strength  of  the  brine  at  the  State 
wells  with  the  best  salt  wells  of  New  York,  Virginia  and  else- 
where, the  Geologist  adds:  "The  improvement  of  our  State 
salines  has  now  progressed  so  far  as  to  satisfy  the  most  scepti- 
cal of  actual  success.  And  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  great  importance  or  the  necessity  of  speedy 
completion." 


280  APPENDIX. 

FIFTH   ANNUAL  REPORT. 

On  January  27,  1842,  was  sent  to  the  legislature  the  fifth 
annual  report  of  the  State  Geologist  (six  pages). 

It  states  that  the  communication  will  be  confined  almost 
exclusively  to  the  condition  and  wants  of  the  department. 
That  the  field  work  of  the  geological  and  topographical 
surveys  upon  the  plan  originally  contemplated  is  mainly  com- 
pleted, but  that  in  consequence  of  the  small  amount  of  funds 
applicable  the  amount  of  work  accomplished  has  been  less 
than  that  of  the  preceding  year.  That  the  labor  so  applied 
has  been  chiefly  devoted  to  the  westerly  portion  or  mountain- 
ous district  of  the  upper  peninsula. 

That  in  connection  with  duties  assigned  him  relative  to 
the  boundary  line  between  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  he  has 
been  enabled  to  complete  a  very  perfect  geological  section  of 
nearly  180  miles  in  length,  crossing  from  the  mouth  of  Mont- 
real Eiver  to  the  mouth  of  Menominee  Eiver  of  Green  Bay. 

"  In  addition  to  several  geological  sections  completed,  all 
the  rivers  entering  Lake  Superior  have  been  carefully  exam- 
ined to  their  very  sources,  and  the  Porcupine  Mountains  have 
been  traced  out  through  almost  the  entire  range.  The  results 
of  these  surveys  have  served  to  add  confidence  to  our  pre- 
viously expressed  opinion  respecting  the  value  of  that  part  of 
our  State.  The  copper  ores  associated  with  the  altered  con- 
glomerate and  sandstone  rocks  in  this  portion  of  the  range 
have  been  found  to  be  more  extensive  than  has  been  originally 
supposed." 

In  speaking  of  the  limits  of  the  southerly  range,  within 
which  falls  the  lead  district  of  Wisconsin  and  Iowa,  the 
report  says:  "It  should  be  recollected  that  the  outer  or  north- 


FIRST   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  281 

ern  range  of  mountains  of  Lake  Superior  constitute  what  has 
been  called  the  true  copper  district,  and  that  in  this  district 
no  lead  and  none  of  the  ores  of  which  sulphur  is  a  constituent 
have  been  noticed,  while  in  the  southern  range  in  Michigan 
the  ores  are  almost  entirely  sulphates,  and  lead  occurs  more 
abundantly  than  copper.  Thus  far  I  have  been  unable  to 
trace  any  portion  of  the  great  limestone  formation  of  the 
upper  peninsula  to  any  near  proximity  to  this  range,  where 
the  same  traverses  that  portion  of  Michigan,  and  in  tracing 
the  range  westwardly  no  considerable  deposits  of  lead  have 
been  found  until  the  lower  rocks  are  covered  by  heavy 
deposits  of  limestone,  which  would  lead  to  the  inference  that 
these  upper  deposits  have  performed  an  important  part  in 
arresting  and  fixing  the  minerals  referred  to  (minerals  associ- 
ated with  the  lead  ores),  and  which  minerals  may  fairly  be 
inferred  to  have  had  their  origin  from  the  lower  rocks  to 
which  reference  has  been  made.'7 

The  report  alludes  to  the  very  great  assistance  derived 
from  the  Honorable  William  A.  Burt,  who  during  the  last  two 
years  has  been  engaged  in  surveying  the  United  States  Town- 
ship lines. 

Of  the  drafting  from  the  field  notes,  Dr.  Houghton  states, 
that  since  in  the  topographical  department  there  has  been  only 
a  single  assistant,  the  amount  of  drafting  has  continued  to 
accumulate  upon  his  hands,  and  there  yet  remains  an  amount 
to  be  done  which  can  scarcely  be  accomplished  in  an  entire 
year.  The  fund  applicable  to  these  objects  being  absorbed 
there  will  be  required  a  small  appropriation.  He  enumerates 
six  counties  of  which  maps  have  been  engraved,  and  says  that 
had  not  the  state  of  the  Treasury  made  it  impossible,  these 


282  APPENDIX. 

with  thirteen  others  would  have  been  published  before  this 
date. 


On  January  27th,  1843,  the  Geologist  makes  a  report  rela- 
tive to  the  State  salt  springs,  (6  pages.)  (In  conformity  with 
an  Act  approved  February  1st,  1842,  which  appropriated 
$15,000  for  the  improvement  of  the  State  salt  springs.) 

At  the  State  salt  springs  on  Grand  Eiver,  Kent  Co.,  the 
work  has  been  nearly  completed.  The  depth  obtained  is  some- 
thing over  800  feet,  and  is  on  the  lower  salt  rock.  Since  the 
date  of  last  report  the  quantity  of  water  discharged  has  very 
considerably  increased,  and  now  exceeds  200  gallons  per  min- 
ute. As  the  water  now  flows  from  the  iron  tube  it  is  mixed 
with  all  the  fresh  water  entering  the  well  above  the  upper 

salt  rock,  a  difficulty  which  will  be  overcome  by  proper 
/ 

tubing.  In  continuing  the  work  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance 
that  the  borings  be  carried  entirely  through  the  lower  salt 
rocks,  and  then,  and  not  until  then,  can  the  capacity  of  the 
well  be  fully  determined.  He  adds,  that  it  is  now  satis- 
factorily shown  that  the  place  of  the  salt  water  in  the  sub- 
carboniferous  rocks  is  as  originally  set  forth,  and  that  the  sup- 
ply of  water  is  abundant,  and  further  that  the  character  of 
the  brine  is  such  as  will  admit  of  the  manufacture  of  salt  at 
such  rates  as  will  enable  our  citizens  to  compete  with  that 
manufacture  abroad. 

At  the  State  salt  well  on  Tittabawassee  Eiver,  no  further 
progress  has  been  made,  the  reasons  for  which  suspension  are 
contained  in  section  708  of  an  Act  relative  to  the  State  salt 
springs,  approved  Feb.  16,  1842. 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  283 

THE  SIXTH  ANNUAL  REPORT 

of  the  State  Geologist  bears  date  February  10,  1843  (five 
pages).  It  sets  forth  the  condition  and  progress  of  the 
geological  survey  of  the  State  towards  completion. 

"  Since  the  date  of  my  last  report  I  have  been  chiefly 
engaged  in  arranging  and  putting  in  shape  the  immense 
amount  of  details,  both  geological  and  topographical,  which 
have  accumulated ;  in  analyzing  and  studying  the  immense 
collection  of  specimens  illustrating  the  geology  and  mineral- 
ogy of  our  State,  and  in  the  chemical  analysis  of  our  soils, 
minerals  and  rock  specimens. "  He  announces  the  field  work 
for  the  entire  survey  as  now  completed,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  points  where  the  work  still  wants  connecting. 

In  the  topographical  office  during  a  portion  of  the  year 
the  work  was  suspended  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of  the 
topographer,  who  was  engaged  several  months  in  locating 
lands  for  the  State.  Notwithstanding  the  work  of  drafting  is 
so  far  advanced  that  a  large  portion  is  ready  for  the  hands  of 
the  engraver. 

1 1  The  publication  of  State  and  county  maps  as  directed  by 
the  Legislature  was  long  ago  commenced,  and  the  engraving  of 
several  of  these  maps  had  been  completed  before  the  date  of 
my  last  report,  but  the  inability  to  procure  such  funds  as 
would  purchase  the  paper  has  caused  delay  and  in  fact  has 
for  a  time  virtually  suspended  all  action  upon  the  subject.77 
He  adds — "This  series  of  State  and  county  maps,  it  is  hoped 
and  believed,  will  be  more  full  and  perfect  than  any  which 
have  heretofore  been  published  of  any  equal  portion  of  our 
United  States,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  when  once 
placed  before  the  public  they  will  do  much  to  disseminate  a 


284  APPENDIX. 

knowledge  of  the  immense  capabilities  of  our  State  and  the 
advantages  which  she  offers  to  the  emigrant;  and  that  they 
will  in  that  way  afford  sufficient  aid  towards  increasing  her 
population.  When  the  maps  already  engraved  shall  have 
been  thrown  before  the  public,  it  is  hoped  and  believed  that  a 
sufficient  amount  will  be  received  from  their  sale  to  enable  us 
to  proceed  with  the  engraving  and  publishing  of  the  balance 
without  further  embarrassment,  and  that  they  will  more  than 
pay  the  expenses  incident  to  their  publication. 

"  The  engraved  plates  of  these  maps  will  remain  nearly  as 
perfect  after  the  proposed  edition  shall  have  been  worked  off 
as  they  were  at  first,  and  as  other  editions  may  from  time  to 
time  be  wanted,  the  names  of  newly  organized  towns,  new 
roads,  etc.,  may  be  added  without  difficulty,  at  a  mere  nominal 
expense,  and  without  interfering  with  the  method  adopted  for 
exhibiting  on  them  the  soils  and  timber,  and  the  geological 
and  topographical  features  of  the  country." 

The  report  thus  concludes:  "The  geological  and  topo- 
graphical surveys  of  our  State,  which  have  been  carried  for- 
ward by  a  corps  few  in  number  compared  with  that  furnished 
by  any  other  State,  and  extending  over  an  area  greater  than 
that  claimed  by  any  of  them,  has  been  a  work  of  immense 
labor.  To  accomplish  the  end  desired  the  most  constant  and 
untiring  industry  has  been  required,  added  to  which  it  has 
been  necessary  during  protracted  periods  in  the  wilderness 
country  to  dispense  with  the  ordinary  comforts  of  life,  but 
the  labor  has  been  rendered  light  with  the  hope  that  in  aiding 
to  develop  the  resources  of  our  State,  in  placing  upon  maps 
her  geology,  topography,  and  the  character  of  her  timber  and 
soils,  her  settlements  might  be  increased  and  something  added 
to  her  prosperity  and  wealth." 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   OF  MICHIGAN.  285 

THE   SEVENTH   ANNUAL  REPORT 

of  the  State  Geologist  was  sent  to  the  legislature  February  15, 
1844.  It  states  that  "a  portion  of  the  season  has  been 
devoted  to  connecting  the  work  on  the  upper  peninsula  and 
completing  the  skeleton  of  the  surveys  of  that  part  of  the 
State,  but  by  far  the  greater  amount  of  work  has  been  per- 
formed in  the  office,  in  compiling  and  arranging  the  materials 
for  the  final  report,  and  in  the  completion  of  the  maps, 
together  with  the  figuring  of  sections  and  fossils  illustrative 
of  the  several  groups  of  rocks  of  our  State. 

' i  The  drafting  of  the  county  maps  according  to  the  plan 
directed  has  mainly  been  performed,  and  excepting  some 
slight  addition,  these  are  now  ready  for  the  engraver.  Of 
the  county  maps  four  have  been  struck  off  and  are  now  in  the 
market.  Ten  additional  counties  are  to  be  placed  in  the 
engraver's  hands,  and  I  hope  to  be  able  to  lay  the  maps  of 
these  fourteen  counties,  together  with  the  State  map,  before 
the  public  at  an  early  day  in  the  ensuing  spring. 

"An  appropriation  of  $1,000  to  $1,500  will  cover  all  that 
will  be  required  to  be  paid  out  of  the  treasury  before  a  suffi- 
cient amount  will  be  realized  from  the  sales  to  enable  the 
work  to  progress  without  further  demand  upon  the  treasury, 
and  I  confidently  believe  that  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of 
these  maps  will  fully  refund  to  the  State  the  cost  of  their 
publication.* 


*Regarding  thes  maps  it  is  proper  to  say  that  none  of  the  county  and  State  maps 
since  published  on  private  speculation  at  all  compare  in  accuracy  and  amount  and 
value  of  detail  with  those  prepared  and  ready  for  publication  under  Dr.  Houghton' 
such  civil  features  as  the  progress  of  improvement  have  since  added  of  course  excepted. 
It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  lack  of  interest,  or  parsimony  on  the  part  of  officials, 
should  have  rendered  useless  to  the  public  materials  and  work  obtained  at  such  great 
cost  and  with  such  commendable  enterprise. 


286  APPENDIX. 

"  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  duties  of  the  survey,  the 
extra  duty  required  at  your  last  session  of  furnishing  the 
State  land  office  with  township  maps,  has  been  performed  so 
far  as  calls  have  been  made  by  the  State  commissioners. 

"The  engraving  of  the  geological  sections,  fossils,  etc.,  will 
occupy  some  time,  and  it  is  desirable  in  order  to  prevent 
delay  that  this  portion  of  the  work  of  the  final  report  should 
be  commenced  at  the  earliest  day  possible.  In  order  to  hasten 
this  the  Geologist  adds :  "I  have  made  a  temporary  arrange- 
ment for  the  wood  cuts  with  a  wood  engraver  who  is  fully  com- 
petent, and  who  is  now  engaged  in  this  duty,  but  in  order  to 
continue  this  work  some  provision  will  be  necessary. " 

Dr.  Houghton  thus  refers  to  the  results  which  he  hoped  to 
accomplish  by  means  of  the  connected  geological  and  linear 
surveying  which  he  had  projected. 

"  While  in  the  survey  of  the  upper  peninsula  it  is  very 
desirable  that  the  grand  outlines  should  be  filled  up  with 
more  minuteness  than  has  hitherto  been  done,  to  develop  its 
topography,  geology  and  mineralogy,  in  such  a  manner  as  its 
great  importance  and  the  intrinsic  value  of  its  mineral  treasures 
make  desirable,  it  would  require  a  larger  amount  of  expend- 
iture than  our  State  is  well  able  to  appropriate  to  that  object. 
The  United  States  linear  surveys  afford  a  fine  opportunity  for 
accomplishing  this  in  a  way  which  will  render  the  work 
exceedingly  perfect,  and  at  the  same  time  will  be  attended 
with  little  expense.  I  hope  to  perfect  such  an  arrangement 
(the  connecting  of  the  United  States  surveys  with  the  geologi- 
cal surveys  of  Michigan)  through  the  co-operation  of  the  com- 


FIRST  GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY   OF   MICHIGAN.  287 

missioners  of  the  general  land  office,  as  will  enable  ine  to 
provide  more  perfect  geological  and  topographical  maps  of  the 
upper  peninsula  than  have  ever  been  constructed  of  the  same 
extent  of  territory  in  our  United  States.  In  addition  to  such 
provisions  as  you  may  see  fit  to  make  for  the  engraving  of  the 
several  county  maps,  the  wood  engraving  and  publication, 
there  will  be  required  for  current  expenses  of  the  survey 
during  the  ensuing  year  an  amount  not  exceeding  $400. " 

DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON, 

State  Geologist. 


In  his  "  Outlines  of  the  Political  History  of  Michigan," 
page  489,  Judge  Campbell  says,  relative  to  the  materials  for 
the  final  report: 

"The  general  financial  depression  prevented  any  extensive 
work  after  1841,  and  in  the  careless  management  of  some  of 
the  State  property  after  Dr.  Houghton's  death,  all  of  his 
engravings,  which  were  numerous  and  very  beautiful,  and 
many  of  his  collections  which  had  been  left  in  the  State  offices 
before  their  removal  to  Lansing,  disappeared. 

uDr.  Houghton  had,  before  his  death,  secured  the  services 
of  Mr.  Beueworth,  a  wood  engraver  whose  marvellous  skill 
had  obtained  him  honorable  testimonials  in  Holland,  London 
and  Germany,  and  who  executed  some  of  those  minute  gems 
of  engraving  which  beautify  Harper's  Bible.  This  artist  had 
become  desirous  of  seeing  the  New  World,  and  was  disposed 
to  set  out  for  the  undefined  West,  of  which  he  had  very  vague 
notions,  when  Dr.  Houghton  found  him  in  New  York,  and 


288  APPENDIX. 

being  mutually  interested  he  was  induced  to  enter  upon  the 
work  of  engraving  the  illustrations  which  would  be  needed  for 
the  final  report.  The  blocks  were  engraved  and  left  with 
uncut  margins  to  prevent  abrasions,  and  in  this  condition 
deposited  for  safe  keeping  with  one  of  the  State  officers. 
Besides  these,  Mr.  Higgins  had  drawn  carefully  on  stone  a 
large  number  of  fossils  and  other  specimens,  and  several  maps 
were  engraved;  all  have  been  lost.  Their  money  value  was 
not  less  than  many  thousands  of  dollars;  their  artistic  as  well 
as  scientific  value  cannot  be  reckoned." 


GEOLOGICAL   EXPLORATIONS   IN   MICHIGAN  SINCE  1845.      289 


PART  VI. 

A  CONNECTED  HISTORY  OF  GEOLOGICAL  EXPLORATIONS  IN 
MICHIGAN  SINCE  THE  FIRST  ORGANIZED  SURVEY. 


A  brief  but  connected  statement  of  the  progress  of  geo- 
logical investigation  in  our  State    since  the  death   of   Dr. 

• 
Houghton  cannot  but  interest  the  reader  and  serve  to  render 

our  Summary  complete. 


A  CONNECTED  HISTORY  OF  GEOLOGICAL  EXPLORATIONS  AND 
PUBLICATIONS  EEGARDING  MICHIGAN,  FOLLOWING  THOSE 
OF  THE  FIRST  STATE  SURVEY. 


PAMPHLET  BY  JACOB  HOUGHTON. 

In  1846  appeared  a  bound  pamphlet  entitled  "  The  Mineral 
Eegion  of  Lake  Superior,"  by  Jacob  Houghton,  Jr.,  and  F. 
W.  Bristol.  It  contained  reports  of  Mr.  Win.  A.  Burt  and 
Bela  Hubbard  on  the  geography,  topography  and  geology  of 
the  United  States  Surveys  of  the  mineral  region  of  the  south 

shore  of  Lake  Superior,  for  1845. 
(19) 


290  APPENDIX. 

It  was  accompanied  by  a  list  of  organized  mining  com- 
panies and  of  mineral  locations,  and  a  correct  map  of  the 
mineral  region;  also  a  chart  of  Lake  Superior. 

The  appearance  of  the  above  mentioned  reports  of  Burt 
and  Hubbard  is  explained  by  the  following  communication: 

DETROIT,  Feb.  16,  1846. 
To  THE  HON.  Lucius  LYON, 

Surveyor  General,  etc: 

Sin, — By  contract  with  the  commissioners  of  the  general 
land  office,  under  date  of  June  25,  1844,  the  late  Dr.  Douglass 
Houghton  was  required  to  make  both  a  linear  and  a  geological 
survey  of  a  section  of  country  bordering  on  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Superior.  He  was  engaged  in  this  work  at  the  time 
of  his  lamented  death.  As  administrators  of  his  estate  we 
have  caused  the  field  notes  and  papers  connected  with  the 
survey  as  far  as  completed  to  be  carefully  examined,  and  the 
accompanying  reports  of  Messrs.  William  A.  Burt  and  Bela 
Hubbard  to  be  prepared.  Mr.  Burt,  who  was  the  principal 
assistant  of  Dr.  Houghton  in  the  field,  reports  in  full  as  to 
that  portion  of  the  country  surveyed  by  him,  and  Mr.  Hub- 
bard, assistant  State  geologist,  has  prepared  a  like  full  report 
upon  the  remainder  of  the  surveyed  territory,  from  the  field 
notes  of  the  survey  and  the  specimens  collected.  It  would 
not  be  expected  that  the  information  contained  in  these  re- 
ports would  be  as  complete  and  as  accurate  in  detail  as  it  would 
have  been  could  they  have  been  prepared  by  Dr.  Houghton 
himself.  Enough,  however,  will  appear  to  enable  the  Govern- 
ment to  appreciate  both  the  advantages  and  the  perfect  feasi- 
bility of  the  plan  of  connecting  geological  with  the  linear 
surveys  of  government  lands,  as  originally  proposed  and 
zealously  advocated  by  Dr.  Houghton. 

(Signed)  Eespectfully  yours, 

HENEY  A.  WALKEE, 
SAMUEL  P.  DOUGLASS. 


GEOLOGICAL   EXPLORATIONS   IN  MICHIGAN  SINCE  1845.      291 

The  report  of  William  A.  Burt  embraces  Keweenaw  Point 
and  the  tract  of  country  bordering  the  coast  from  Chocolate 
to  Carp  Bivers,  and  extending  a  length  of  120  miles,  being  the 
district  over  which  he  had  run  the  township  lines.  He  gives 
the  highest  elevations  as  900  feet  above  Lake  Superior, 
describes  the  courses  of  the  mountain  ranges,  the  harbors, 
rivers,  soil  and  timber,  and  the  general  geology. 

The  report  of  Bela  Hubbard  embraces  37  townships, 
namely,  eight  at  and  west  of  Chocolate  Eiver,  three  at  head  of 
Keweenaw  Bay,  and  the  remainder  include  Keweenaw  Point 
north  of  Portage  Eiver,  being  the  district  sub- divided  in  1845 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Houghton,  deputy  surveyor. 

It  includes  a  description  of  the  granite  and  metamorphic 
rocks,  dividing  the  latter  into  quartzite  and  trappose  portions. 

The  first  named  or  more  southerly  portion  is  composed  of 
white  and  brown  quartz  rocks,  talcose,  volitic  and  clay  slates, 
slaty  hornblende,  and  specular  and  micaceous  oxides  of  iron. 
These  rocks  are  throughout  pervaded  by  the  argillaceous  red 
and  micaceous  oxides  of  iron,  sometimes  intimately  dissemi- 
nated, and  sometimes  in  beds  or  veins.  The  two  largest  beds 
noticed  are  in  town  47,  north,  range  26  west,  and  made  up 
almost  entirely  of  granulated,  magnetic  and  specular  iron. 

The  most  northerly  of  these  hills  of  ore  extend  nearly  east 
and  west  at  least  one- fourth  of  a  mile,  with  a  breadth  little 
less  than  1,000  feet,  the  whole  of  which  forms  a  single  mass  of 
ore,  with  occasional  thin  strata  of  imperfect  chert  and  jaspar, 
and  dips  north  ten  degrees  east,  about  thirty  degrees.  "This 
bed  of  iron,"  the  report  states,  "will  compare  favorably  both 
for  extent  and  quality  with  any  known  in  our  country. " 


292  APPENDIX. 

This  report  contains  the  first  published  account  of  the  iron 
ore  beds  of  Michigan.  The  clay  slates  of  the  red  sand  rock, 
which  is  considered  as  the  equivalent  of  the  Potsdam  of  New 
York,  are  described,  and  the  general  character  of  the  geology 
of  the  Keweenaw  Point  district,  its  traps,  conglomerates  and 
sandrocks  and  mineral  veins.  In  regard  to  the  latter,  the 
report  states  that  the  courses  of  many  veins  have  been  fixed 
with  accuracy,  and  the  veins  themselves  traced  in  some 
instances  for  several  miles  across  the  conglomerate  and  sand- 
rocks,  and  into  and  across  some  portions  of  the  trap.  The 
observations  thus  made  are  confirmatory  of  the  fact,  first 
noticed  by  Dr.  Houghton,  that  the  true  veins  of  the  district 
referred  to  pursue  a  course  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the  line 
of  bearing  of  the  trap  range. 

The  report  closes  with  appropriate  observations  upon  the 
advantages  resulting  from  the  new  system  as  devised  and 
prosecuted  by  Dr.  Houghton,  of  the  union  of  geological  with 
the  lineal  surveys,  of  which  the  first  experimental  results  are 
now  returned.  And  it  calls  attention  to  the  unwonted 
accuracy  with  which  the  lines  have  been  run.  This  is  due  to 
the  exclusive  use  of  Burt's  solar  compass.  Nearly  the  whole 
region  subdivided  abounds  with  mineral  attractive  to  the 
magnet,  and  a  variation  fluctuating  from  six  to  twenty 
degrees  on  either  side  of  the  true  meridian  was  not  uncommon 
through  the  length  of  an  entire  township. 

Professor  A.  Winchell,  State  Geologist  of  1861,  referring 
to  these  reports  of  Messrs.  Burt  and  Hubbard  says:  ^  These 
two  .reports  unfold  in  an  admirable  manner  the  geological 
structure  of  the  trap  and  metamorphic  regions  of  Lake 


GEOLOGICAL  EXPLORATIONS  IN   MICHIGAN  SINCE    1845.      293 

Superior,    and    anticipate  results   which   were  subsequently 
worked  out  by  the  United  States  Geologists." 

The  pamphlet  above  mentioned  was  followed  in  July  of 
the  same  year,  1846,  by  a  somewhat  larger  and  more  extended 
edition  by  Jacob  Houghton,  Jr.  It  comprised,  in  addition  to 
the  matters  contained  in  the  previous  volume,  a  brief  sketch 
of  the  early  history  of  the  mineral  regions,  and  the  report  of 
the  State  Geologist  of  1841  in  full. 

May  15,  1846,  the  legislature  of  Michigan  passed  a  joint 
resolution  authorizing  and  empowering  the  Governor  of  the 
State  to  select  and  appoint  some  competent  person  to  collect, 
collate  and  arrange  all  the  geological  notes,  memoranda, 
specimens,  maps,  engravings  and  drawings,  including  geologi- 
cal surveys,  kept,  made,  collected  and  preserved  for  and  in 
behalf  of  the  State  by  the  late  Dr.  Houghton,  State  Geolo- 
gist, and  designed  and  intended  by  him  to  be  used  in  making 
a  final  report  for  the  benefit  of  the  people  of  said  State,  and 
from  the  materials  thus  collected,  and  the  requisite  additional 
information  derived  from  other  sources,  to  prepare  a  final 
report  upon  the  geology  of  Michigan. 

No  appropriation  seems  to  have  accompanied  the  above 
resolutions,  and  it  may  have  been  for  that  reason  and  for  some 
objection  or  inability  to  apply  to  the  purpose  intended  any 
portion  of  the  contingent  fund,  that.  Gov.  Felch  failed  to  give 
effect  to  the  Act  of  the  legislature  embodying  the  wishes  of 
the  people  of  Michigan.  No  person  was  appointed  by  the 
Governor  under  this  resolution,  nor  were  any  steps  taken  to 
carry  out  its  provisions. 

Fifteen  years  exactly  after  the  last  official  act  of  Dr. 
Houghton  as  State  Geologist  of  Michigan,  an  Act  was  passed 


294  APPENDIX. 

by  the  legislature,  approved  Feb.  18,  1859,  entitled,  "An  Act 
to  Finish  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State. " 

This  Act  authorized  and  directed  the  Governor  to  appoint 
some  suitable  person  to  finish  the  geological  survey  of  the 
State,  with  maps  and  diagrams,  and  a  full  scientific  descrip- 
tion of  its  rocks,  soils  and  its  botanical  and  natural  produc- 
tions. The  Governor  was  also  authorized  to  appoint 
competent  assistants.  It  appropriated  the  sum  of  $2,000  for 
the  year  1860,  and  requires  the  geologist  in  charge  to  report  to 
the  legislature  that  should  be  in  session. 

Under  this  Act  Prof.  Alex.  Winchell,  of  the  State  Univer 
sity,  received  the  appointment  of  State  Geologist,  and  his  first 
biennial  report  of  the  progress  of  the  geological  survey, 
embracing  observations  on  the  geology,  zoology  and  botany  of 
the  lower  peninsula,  was  made  Dec.  31,  1860,  and  was  pub- 
lished by  the  State,  Lansing,  1861. 

FIRST  BIENNIAL  REPORT  OF  PROF.  WINCHELL,  1860. 

In  the  introduction  of  the  report  the  Geologist  recounts 
the  action  theretofore  taken  by  the  State  in  relation  to  a 
geological  survey,  and  does  full  justice  to  the  labors  of  Dr. 
Houghton,  and  his  assistants,  of  whose  reports  a  complete 
resume  is  given. 

In  addition  to  the  190  pages  devoted  to  the  geology,  are 
reports  of  Dr.  M.  Miles,  State  Geologist  (part  2  zoology), 
accompanied  by  a  catalogue  of  mammals,  birds,  reptiles  and 
Molusks  of  Michigan.  This  catalogue  contains  about  one- 
third  more  species  than  those  enumerated  by  Dr.  Sager  in 
his  report  of  1838.  Part  3,  botany,  contains  a  valuable  list  of 


REPORT  OF  PROF.  WINCHELL,  1860.  295 

plants  of  the  State,  occupying  84  pages,  compiled  from  all 
the  sources  within  reach. 

In  his  introduction  Prof.  Winchell  thus  alludes  to  the 
explorations  conducted  by  the  United  States  government  in 
the  Lake  Superior  region  of  Michigan. 

Little  more  than  a  year  after  the  suspension  of  the  survey 
under  Dr.  Houghton,  congress  passed  an  Act,  approved 
March  1,  1847,  embracing  provisions  for  the  geological 
exploration  of  Lake  Superior  land  district,  organized  by  the 
same  Act.  Under  this  Act,  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson  was  appointed 
by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  to  execute  the  required 
survey. 

After  having  spent  two  seasons  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
work,  he  presented  a  report  of  800  pages  and  resigned  his 
commission. 

In  the  meantime  the  survey  was  continued  and  subse- 
quently completed  by  Messrs.  Foster  and  Whitney,  United 
States  Geologists.  Their  report  of  224  pages  on  the  "  copper 
lauds"  was  submitted  as  "Part  No.  1,  April  15,  1850."  Part 
2,  on  the  iron  region  and  general  geology,  was  submitted  Nov. 
12,  1851,  and  forms  a  volume  of  406  pages,  with  25  plates. 
The  fossiliferous  region  was  passed  upon  by  Prof.  James  Hall, 
the  veteran  paleontologist,  of  New  York,  whose  observations 
and  conclusions  are  embodied  in  the  report,  together  with 
papers  on  the  geology  of  Wisconsin,  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Lapham 
and  Col.  Charles  Whittlesey.  The  latter  also  communicated 
important  chapters  on  the  "observed  fluctuations"  of  the 
surface  of  the  lakes. 

"The  examinations  reported  in  part  2  extended  around 
the  entire  lake  shores  of  the  upper  peninsula,  as  far  as  the 


296  APPENDIX. 

head  of  Green  Bay,  and  embrace  the  islands  at  the  head  of 
Lake  Huron. 

Parallelism  was  established  between  the  geology  of  this 
lake  region  and  that  of  New  York." 

Previous  to  the  passage  of  the  Act,  March,  1847,  by  con- 
gress, the  United  States  Surveyor  General,  anxious  to  con- 
tinue the  plan  of  the  union  of  the  geological  with  the  linear 
surveys,  first  suggested  and  afterwards  successfully  begun  by 
Dr.  Houghton  in  1846,  commissioned  Mr.  Bela  Hubbard  to 
receive  the  reports  and  specimens  and  continue  the  geological 
investigations  over  the  region  on  Lake  Superior  then  being 
subdivided  in  the  progress  of  the  United  States  linear  sur- 
veys. 

Mr.  Hubbard' s  report  upon  the  geology  of  the  district 
thus  surveyed  in  1846,  was  returned  to  the  general  land  office, 
together  with  the  regular  returns  of  the  linear  surveys,  but 
no  official  publication  was  known  to  have  been  given. 

INAUGURATION   OF  NEW   STATE   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 

Ten  years  after  the  Act  of  February,  1859,  of  the  legisla- 
ture of  Michigan,  re-establishing  the  State  geological  survey, 
under  which  Act  only  a  single  year's  report  of  progress  was 
made,  a  new  survey  was  inaugurated  by  Act  of  March  26, 
1869.  This  Act  established  a  board  of  geological  survey, 
consisting  of  the  Governor,  the  president  of  the  board  of 
education,  and  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  to  con- 
trol and  complete  the  geological  surveys  of  the  State,  the 
board  to  appoint  a  suitable  person  as  director,  salaries  of  the 
director  and  his  assistants  to  be  fixed  by  the  board;  a  report 
to  be  made  to  the  board  as  often  as  possible,  and  on  comple- 


NEW  STATE  GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY.  297 

tion  a  complete  memoir  to  be  published.  One-half  of  all 
appropriations  to  be  expended  in  the  upper  peninsula.  The 
Act  appropriates  $8, 000  for  each  year  of  the  survey.  To  this 
the  board  afterwards  added  $1,000  for  chemical  work. 

Prof.  A.  Winchell  was  made  director,  but  resigned  in 
1871,  and  the  further  prosecution  of  the  work  was  done  under 
the  direction  of  the  board. 

Vol.  I.  and  II.  of  this  survey  were  published  by  authority 
of  the  legislature  of  Michigan,  with  an  atlas  of  maps,  and  is 
confined  to  the  upper  peninsula.  Twenty  thousand  dollars 
was  appropriated  for  2,000  copies  in  1873.  It  consists  of  three 
parts,  viz.: 

Vol.  I.  Part  1— The  Iron  bearing  Eocks,  by  T.  B. 
Brooks  (320  pages). 

Part  2 — Copper-bearing  Eocks  (economic),  by  Eaphael 
Pompelly  (140  pages). 

Part  3 — Palaeozoic  Eocks,  by  Dr.  Epmminger  (102  pages). 

Vol.  II  consists  of  Appendices  to  part  1,  Vol.  I  (292 
pages). 

These  volumes,  in  addition  to  observations  upon  the  age, 
structure  and  lithology  of  the  rocks,  contain  a  large  amount 
of  details  connected  with  the  development  of  the  iron  mines. 

Mr.  Brooks  prefaces  his  report  with  an  historical  sketch 
of  geological  discovery  and  development.  Alluding  to  the 
material  which  had  been  accumulated  by  the  first  State 
Geologist,  he  says:  "Any  one  familiar  with  the  geology  of 
the  upper  peninsula  who  will  peruse  the  manuscript  notes 
left  by  Dr.  Houghton  will  be  convinced  that  his  views  regard- 
ing the  geology  of  the  older  rocks  were  far  in  advance  of  his 
time,  and  such  only  as  geologists  years  after  he  recorded  them 
universally  accepted." 


298  APPENDIX. 

Vol.  Ill  of  this  survey  was  published  by  the  legislature 
in  1876.  It  is  confined  to  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan. 

This  is  by  C.  Eomminger,  and  consists  of  155  pages  of 
text  and  55  plates  of  fossils. 

Part  1 — Geology. 

Part  2— Palaeontology. 

It  is  accompanied  by  geological  maps. 

Vol.  IV  contains  the  geology  of  the  upper  peninsula,  and 
was  published  in  1881.  It  is  by  C.  Eomminger. 

Part  1 — Marquette  Iron  Eegion. 

Part  2 — Menominee  Iron  Eegion. 


The  following  correspondence,  cut  from  a  Detroit  Journal 
of  1867,  is  here  inserted,  as  indicating  the  interest  early  taken 
by  citizens  of  Michigan  in  the  subject  out  of  which  these 
"memorials"  have  grown.  The  list  of  names  will  revive  the 
memory  of  many  well  known  friends  of  Dr.  Hough  ton. 

LECTURE  BY  PROF.  BRADISH. 

By  the  accompanying  correspondence  it  will  be  seen  that 
Prof.  Bradish  will  lecture  at  Young  Men's  Hall  on  Monday 
evening  next,  his  subject  being  "A  Biographical  Sketch  of 
the  Late  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton"  : 

Professor  A.  BRADISH  : 

DEAR  SIR: — Having  understood  that  you  have  prepared  a 
biographical  sketch  of  the  late  Dr.  Douglass  Hough  ton,  we 
would  respectfully  request  you  to  give  a  public  reading  of  it 
before  the  Young  Men's  Society  of  our  city.  Dr.  Houghton'B 


LECTURE   BY   PROF.   BRADISH. 


299 


name  is  so  closely  connected  with  the  interests  of  our  state  and 
city,  which  he  did  so  much  to  farther  and  advance,  that  his 
memory  will  always  be  honored  among  us.  And  it  will  give 
especially  to  his  numerous  personal  friends  in  the  society  of 
which  he  was  a  principal  founder,  and  in  the  community 
where  he  displayed  so  much  public  spirit,  very  great  pleasure 
to  have  their  recollections  refreshed  by  a  recital  of  his  life  and 
character.  Your  own  position  as  his  near  connection,  and  an 
old  fellow- citizen  of  our  own,  will  add  to  the  interest  of  the 
subject.  We  therefore  beg  leave  to  urge  upon  you  a  compli- 
ance with  our  request. 


S.  A.  McCosKRY, 

GEO.    DUFFIELD, 
JNO.  S.  DEWBERRY, 

JAMES  V  CAMPBELL, 
HOVEY  K.  CLARKE, 
JACOB  M.  HOWARD, 
SYLVESTER  LARNED, 
ELON  FARNSWORTH, 
D.  C.  HOLBROOK, 
HENRY  B.  BROWN, 

A.  H.  KEDFIELD, 

B.  B.  NOYES, 
JACOB  S.  FARRAND, 
A.  SHELBY, 
'FRED.  C.  WETMORE, 
THEO.  H.  EATON, 
GEO.  E.  HAND, 

J.  OWEN, 

W.  INGERSOLL, 

F.  BUHL, 

D.  BETHUNE  DUFFIELD, 

GEO.  V.  1ST.  LOTHROP, 

A.  H.  ADAMS, 

WM.  A.  BUTLER, 

GEORGE  TAYLOR,    • 


DANIEL  J.  CAMPAU, 
HENRY  CHANEY, 
Boss  WILKINS, 
ALFRED  EUSSELL, 
WM.  D.  WILKINS, 
MOSES  W.  FIELD, 
SAMUEL  LEWIS, 
ALEX  LEWIS, 
SAMUEL  PITTS, 
E.  C.  WALKER, 

C.  H.  BUHL, 
W.  A.  MOORE, 

E.  MCCLELLAND, 

EOBT.  E.  1\OBERTS, 

S.  T.  DOUGLASS, 
H.  N.  WALKER, 

F.  NORVELL, 
FRANCIS  EAYMOND, 

D.  GOODWIN, 
JACOB  HOUGHTON, 
J.  L.  WHITING, 
W.  K  CARPENTER, 
P.  E.  DEMILL, 

C.  C.  TROWBRIDGE, 
T.  H.  HINCHMAN, 


300  APPENDIX. 

E.  N.  WILLCOX,  H.  T.  STRINGHAM, 

A.  G.  BOYNTON,  Z  PITCHER, 

SIDNEY  D.  MILLER,  BELA  HUBBARD. 


DETROIT,  Dec.  12,  1867. 

To  S.  A.  McCoskry,  Geo.  Duffield,  Z.  Pitcher,  Ross  Wilkins, 
and  others  : 

GENTLEMEN  : — Your  letter  of  this  date,  in  which  you  do 
me  the  honor  to  ask  nie  to  read  a  biographical  sketch  of  the 
late  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton,  before  the  Young  Men's  Associa 
tion  of  this  city,  I  have  just  received.  The  expressions  of 
your  invitation  are  so  kind  and  earnest,  that  I  am  again 
impressed  with  the  universal  esteem  felt  in  this  community 
for  the  memory  of  that  distinguished  citizen. 

In  reply,  I  beg  to  thank  you  for  these  expressions,  and  to 
say  that  it  will  give  me  great  satisfaction  to  comply  with  your 
request. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  much  respect,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant, 

ALVAH  BRADISH. 


FULL    LENGTH    PORTRAIT  OF    DR.    HOUGHTON — DESCRIPTION. 

(See  Frontispiece.) 

The  artist  has  represented  the  Geologist  as  standing  on  the 
rocky  shore  of  Lake  Superior.  Much  of  his  severe  and 
perilous  labors  had  been  made  in  that  region,  and  it  was  there 
that  he  closed  his  brilliant  Career.  It  is  suitable,  therefore 

that  this  able  explorer  should  be  represented  in  the  midst  of 
scenes  that  he  had  long  been  familiar  with,  and  which  his 

disastrous   death  has  surrounded  with  a  mournful  interest. 
His  dress  as  seen  in  this  historical  portrait  is  that  of  an  out- 


FULL   LENGTH   PORTRAIT  OF   DR.  HOUGHTON.  301 

door  geologist,  a  loose  summer  coat  without  vest,  leather 
suspenders,  pants  of  a  lighter  color,  with  high-top  boots, 
suitable  for  wading  in  swamps  and  crossing  deep  streams. 
He  is  resting,  as  it  were,  from  severe  labor;  his  attitude  is 
easy  but  emphatic;  his  looks  are  eager  and  penetrating;  the 
expressions  of  his  countenance  are  serene,  but  his  brow  and 
eyes  indicate  the  anxious  thoughts  of  a  mind  deeply  moved 
by  questions  of  science  that  press  for  solution.  One  arm  is 
stretched  out,  the  hand  resting  on  the  symbol  of  his  profes- 
sion, the  geological  hammer.  The  other  holds  to  his  side  the 
well- remembered,  crushed,  rusty  hat  that  had  seen  some  rough 
service.  The  rocks  are  broken  and  shelve  down  to  the 
water  at  his  feet.  These  ledges  are  hardly  concealed  by  wild 
vines  and  lichens,  that  spring  from  crevices  and  drape  the 
rugged  wall. 

Back  of  this  figure  are  seen  the  famous  Pictured  Bocks  of 
Lake  Superior,  sacred  to  Indian  song  and  tradition,  and  made 
classical  by  the  pen  of  Gov.  Cass.  These  rocky  ledges  form 
the  main  portion  of  the  background  of  this  historical  portrait. 
A  cloudy  perturbed  sky  may  prefigure  that  fatal  storm  that 
overwhelmed  the  Doctor  in  its  fury,  and  the  expanse  of  water 
leads  the  observer's  eyes  to  the  distant,  lurid  horizon. 

An  arched  rock  that  would  admit  steamers  under  its  lofty 
dome,  headlands,  deep  rock  cuttings,  cascades  and  chasms 
diversify  the  scenery  of  this  carefully  studied  portrait  of  the 
pioneer  Geologist  of  Michigan.  At  his  feet,  looking  over  the 
water,  stands  his  famous  dog,  "Meeme,"  a  devoted  friend 
that  always  accompanied  Dr.  Houghton  in  boat  or  on  land,  in 
storm  or  in  sunshine.  This  faithful  companion  was  with  him 


302  APPENDIX. 

in  the  boat  on  the  night  that  proved  fatal  to  his  master,  but 
was  washed  ashore. 

It  may  not  be  unsuitable  to  say  that  the  little  favorite 
water-spaniel  reached  his  home,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  at  last, 
survived  several  years,  and  is  buried  near  the  spot  that  his 
master  had  rendered  memorable  as  the  scene  of  his  boyhood's 
struggles  for  supremacy,  and  his  first  inspirations  in  the 
cause  of  science. 


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